Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

AfriForum encourages public to comment on proposed History curriculum

Alana Bailey (English)

AfriForum encourages all stakeholders to respond to the Department of Basic Education’s invitation for comments on the proposed new History curriculum for Grades 1 to 12. This invitation appeared in the Government Gazette of 20 March 2026.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, it is essential that children are introduced to History as a subject, provided it is presented in an objective way. “History that is studied and taught in a balanced and objective manner offers children the opportunity to better understand their identity and place in the world. It stimulates their critical thinking skills and equips them with empathy and respect for other communities in the world. In addition, it contributes to their general literacy, while helping to preserve the collective memory of various communities and humanity in general.”

Bailey points out that history presented in an unbalanced and subjective manner has the potential to be extremely dangerous. “It can entrench myths about superiority and inferiority, or create scapegoats, which in turn can lead to alienation, polarisation and even violence,” she explains.

The proposed new curriculum focuses very strongly on Africa. Bailey argues that children need to know the history of their respective communities, as well as the broader historical background of their country, their continent and the world.

“Overemphasising the continent, as the introduction to the curriculum suggests, can easily result in distortions. Africa is a continent that comprises extremely diverse communities. For this reason, more specific community-based education is necessary, in order that children will not only have an appreciation for a vague continental identity but will understand and appreciate their unique place within it and their community’s contribution to it.”

“The most important role players in history education remain the parents and teachers. Curriculum writers will rarely create truly objective curricula and the ideology of the rulers of the day will always play a role. It is therefore necessary for parents at home and teachers in the classroom to offer children more information to broaden their knowledge framework and enable them to form their own opinions about the facts. It seems as if private education institutions will play an increasingly important role in South Africa to ensure that the youth are equipped with a balanced historical image.”

More information about the proposed curriculum is available on the Department’s website (www.education.gov.za) and the public has 30 days to submit their comments on it.