Exploring the recontextualisation of biology in the CAPS for Life Sciences

AbstractThis study is concerned with the recontextualisation of biology in the most recent version ofthe South African Life Sciences curriculum, the CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment PolicyStatements). The following aspects of the curriculum were assessed: the balance ofcanonical and humanistic material, the inclusion and weighting of the core concepts ofbiology, and the overall curriculum coherence. The results were compared with those forearlier versions of the curriculum, and the implications for South African students areconsidered. The study reveals that, according to these criteria, the content material of theCAPS faithfully reflects the hierarchical nature of its parent discipline biolog