'SADTU has long advocated for the decolonisation of education and the history curriculum'

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has described the release of the draft history curriculum for grades 4 to 12 as a timely step toward strengthening the country’s education system.

The union believes the proposed amendments could usher in stronger African perspectives while also supporting its push to make history a compulsory subject in schools across the country.

It said that this would encourage social cohesion, strengthen cultural understanding, and help learners develop identity, empathy and critical thinking.

SADTU Spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said, “SADTU has long advocated for the decolonisation of education and the history curriculum. For far too long, history in South Africa has been taught from a colonial, Eurocentric perspective while ignoring the African perspective. We hope the draft history curriculum is a step towards addressing this imbalance.”