This is the isiXhosa Home Language CAPS Document (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) for the Foundation Phase, Grades R-3, issued by the South African Department of Basic Education. It sets out what must be taught, learnt and assessed in isiXhosa Home Language across Grades R, 1, 2 and 3, and is relevant for the 2026 and 2027 school years. The document covers listening and speaking, phonics and reading, and writing, with a dedicated Grade R programme for early language and literacy development.
The following document, isiXhosa Home Language CAPS Document Grades R-3.pdf, is the full document.
CAPS Document Brief
isiXhosa Home Language CAPS Document Grades R-3 kavo-102
The document organises Home Language teaching around Listening and Speaking, and Reading and Writing, with subsections covering shared and group-guided reading, paired and independent reading, phonics (sounds), sight words, comprehension and writing. A separate subsection sets out the Grade R language programme.
This is a 138-page CAPS document made up of three main sections plus a word list: Section 1 introduces the National Curriculum Statement; Section 2 introduces the approach to teaching languages in the Foundation Phase, including time allocation and assessment; and Section 3, the largest section, sets out the detailed curriculum and content requirements term by term for Grades R to 3, including weekly text and vocabulary requirements.
The document aims to develop learners into confident, fluent isiXhosa speakers, readers and writers by the end of Grade 3, building strong home-language foundations for literacy and learning across the curriculum. It emphasises oral language development, phonemic awareness, reading comprehension and creative and functional writing appropriate to each grade.
Grade
R-3
Subject
isiXhosa Home Language
Phase
Foundation Phase
Curriculum
South African (CAPS)
School Years
2026 and 2027