Country education guide
South Africa
The Department of Basic Education sets the national curriculum and examination framework, implemented through provincial departments and schools.
📚 School stages
Grades, stages, and local pathways
Grade R / Foundation Phase entry
Grade R precedes or begins the Foundation Phase of the national school curriculum.
Foundation and Intermediate Phases · Grades 1–6
CAPS organises learning through national subject and phase policies.
Senior Phase · Grades 7–9
The Senior Phase completes the compulsory general-education band before further education and training.
FET Phase · Grades 10–12 / NSC
The Further Education and Training phase culminates in the National Senior Certificate examination.
TVET / university / university of technology
NSC endorsement and programme-specific subjects and levels govern higher-education access.
📝 Examinations and qualifications
Selectable records for South Africa
Each record links to the authority that publishes its current rules.
National Senior Certificate (NSC)
The Grade 12 school-leaving qualification based on the National Curriculum Statement and school-based plus external assessment.
- Completion or score rule
- The NSC and Bachelor, Diploma, or Higher Certificate admission endorsements use specified subject and achievement combinations; programme entry can require higher marks.
- Where it applies
- South Africa
🔗 Official source library