Abstract
M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies)
This research focuses on the role the curriculum plays in the existence of certain types of private schools in the RSA. Private schools in South Africa currently number in excess of
500 and the number is increasing every year. The various private schools claim that they offer curricula suited to the specific needs of certain pupils.
A structured interview was compiled and used to interview three different schools namely a volkskool (a people's school), a church school and an independent school. The responses received during the interview were then analysed and interpreted to reach certain conclusions and to put forward certain recommendations. It was inter alia concluded that: The volkskool (people's school) attaches importance to
religion and ethnicity. The church school stresses the religious principles of a specific church. The independent school considers the economic demands of the world we live in as of importance. For a child to cope in the adult world he must be academically prepared and qualified. It was furthermore established that the processes of curriculum design and development do take place in private schools. This is inter alia evident from the specific subjects that are offered in certain private schools. While a subject like "Volksgeskiedenis" (History of the people) is offered at volkskole, Church History is taught at church schools, and independent schools concentrate on, for instance, Life Skills to prepare their respective pupils towards eventual choices of career. It is then concluded that to effect a stable education environment private schools should be given the greatest amount of freedom to compile their own curricula.