This is the Geography CAPS Document (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) for the Further Education and Training Phase, Grades 10-12, issued by the South African Department of Basic Education. It sets out what must be taught, learnt and assessed in Geography across Grades 10, 11 and 12, and is relevant for the 2026 and 2027 school years. The subject focuses on the atmosphere, geomorphology, population and settlement, development and economic geography, and water and other resources, together with the geographical skills and techniques needed to interpret maps, photographs and data.
The following document, Geography CAPS Document Grades 10-12.pdf, is the full document.
CAPS Document Brief
Geography CAPS Document Grades 10-12 kavo-029
Geography is built around Four Big Ideas together with geographical skills, attitudes and values, and the asking of geographical questions. Its content areas across Grades 10 to 12 include the atmosphere and climate and weather, geomorphology, rural and urban settlement, population and development geography, economic geography of South Africa, and water resources and resource sustainability, each paired with practical geographical skills such as map work, aerial photograph and orthophoto interpretation, fieldwork and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
The document runs to 66 pages and is organised into four main sections. Section 1 introduces the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement and its general aims; Section 2 introduces Geography as a subject, its aims, its Four Big Ideas and geographical skills, and an overview of content and skills across the FET band; Section 3 gives the overview of topics per term and the annual teaching plans for Grade 10, Grade 11 and Grade 12; and Section 4 covers assessment in Geography, including formal assessment requirements, the programme of assessment and the format of examinations.
The subject aims to develop learners’ understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and how these shape and change the earth’s surface, and to build geographical, mapwork and information-handling skills that learners can apply in real life. It also aims to cultivate values and attitudes of care and respect for the environment and other people, and to enable learners to critically evaluate sustainable resource use and development issues in South Africa and the world.
Grade
10-12
Subject
Geography
Phase
Further Education and Training (FET)
Curriculum
South African (CAPS)
School Years
2026 and 2027