The DBE continues its work to build an inclusive and relevant education system through the Three Stream Model (TSM). This approach gives learners different learning pathways based on their strengths, interests, and career goals. It includes three streams, academic, vocational, and occupational, so that every learner has an equal opportunity to succeed and develop useful skills for the future.

To support this initiative, a national curriculum strengthening workshop was held from 23 to 27 February 2026, at the Premier Hotel OR Tambo. The workshop brought together over 100 curriculum specialists, subject advisors, and teachers from all nine provinces in South Africa to form subject writing teams. Their task was to review and strengthen the vocational and occupational subjects so that the content stays relevant, practical, and aligned with current social and economic needs. These subjects include technical and service-related fields that give learners early exposure to career-focused learning.

During the engagement, Mr Seliki Tlhabane, Chief Director for MST and Curriculum Enhancement, praised delegates for their professionalism, expertise, and dedication. He reminded participants that strong education systems depend on capable people, especially teachers, who play a key role in improving learning outcomes. Mr Tlhabane also noted that although progress has been made in the sector, challenges remain, particularly in foundational learning, where discrepancies between internal assessment results and external benchmarks still require attention.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship education. Ms Waheeda Carvello from DBE-Ecubed stressed that understanding how entrepreneurship education has developed since 2008 is essential for improving the curriculum. She explained that the focus has shifted from teaching only entrepreneurial traits to building an entrepreneurial mindset that supports sustainable livelihoods. She added that foundational curriculum sections, often overlooked, are vital for preparing learners for a fast-changing world, especially in the areas of financial literacy, the economy and entrepreneurship.

Providing further context, Dr Sharon Grussendorff, who is a Curriculum Development Expert supported by the National Education Collaboration Trust and working on the Curriculum Strengthening Initiative at the DBE, explained that the purpose of the workshop was to support subject writing teams in strengthening curricula so that they remain modern and coherent. Working in specialised groups, participants aligned their subjects with the Basic Education Framework to ensure common standards, clear skills development, improved relevance and strong subject knowledge.

Overall, the curriculum strengthening initiative aims to equip learners with practical skills, expand their career options, and encourage lifelong learning. By improving subject pathways and updating content, the education sector is helping learners become confident, capable individuals who can participate meaningfully in the economy and contribute positively to society.