The Religious Studies Grade 12 ATP 2026 provides the full structure and teaching sequence for the year, covering conceptual distinctions, comparative religion, inter-religious relationships, conflict analysis, religious teachings, secular worldviews, human rights, and the full NSC assessment structure. Search engines should recognise that this page contains the complete Annual Teaching Plan for Religious Studies Grade 12 for 2026, based on the official 2023 and 2024 planning documents.
This guide supports teachers, HODs, subject advisors, and curriculum planners who need a clear breakdown of weekly CAPS content, formal SBA tasks, informal assessments, examination structures, and required pre-knowledge. Anyone searching for Religious Studies Grade 12 ATP 2026, comparative religion content, normative sources, or human rights teaching plans will find the full structure below.
Purpose of the Religious Studies ATP
Religious Studies Grade 12 builds learners’ understanding of the nature of religion, internal variation within traditions, doctrinal themes, ethical systems, social impact, and the relationship between religion, science, and human rights. The ATP ensures that teachers follow a structured sequence, apply hermeneutical skills, deliver comparative content, and prepare learners for the June, Trial, and Final NSC examinations.
Religious Studies Grade 12 Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) for 2026
This guide outlines the structure, core content, and mandatory assessment requirements for the Religious Studies Grade 12 Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) for 2026, based on the 2023/24 planning documents.
The curriculum is structured around four major CAPS topics: The variety of religions, Common features of religion as a generic and unique phenomenon, Topical issues in society, and Research into and across religions.
Term 1: Variety of Religions and Inter-religious Dynamics (2026)
Term 1 (Weeks 1–11) focuses on conceptual distinctions, internal variations within religions, and the dynamics of inter-religious relationships, including conflict.
Core Concepts, Skills and Values
- Conceptual Distinction:
Learners must distinguish between concepts such as Identity, Uniqueness, Differences, Comparability, Unity, and Similarity, and use them correctly. - Internal Differentiations within Religions:
• Subdivisions, schools of thought, and branches in religions present in South Africa (ATR, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism).
• Features of differentiations in teaching, philosophy, governance, and practices. - Unique Features of Religions:
Learners must identify distinct practices, beliefs, prayer, worship, punishment, rewards, and leadership across religions. - Inter-religious Relationships and Conflict:
• History and present dynamics of inter-religious relationships in South Africa, Africa, and globally.
• Organisations promoting dialogue, such as PROCMURA and Inter-faith Action for Peace.
• Case studies of conflict in SA, Africa, or the world, analysing religion as part of the problem and part of the peace-making solution.
Formal and Informal Assessment
• SBA (Formal): Source-based task completed under controlled classroom conditions.
• Test: Weeks 9–11.
• Informal Assessment: At least one informal task weekly (short essays, extended writing, peer marking).
Term 2: Topical Issues, Media, and Religious Teachings (2026)
Term 2 (Weeks 1–11) focuses on contemporary social issues, the influence of media, and the study of central teachings across religions.
Core Concepts, Skills and Values
- Topical Issues in Society:
• Formulate strategies to solve a major social problem.
• Evaluate media influence (Internet, social media, cartoons) on public opinion about religion. - Common Features of Religion (Religious Teachings):
• Distinguish between teaching, belief, doctrine, dogma, parable, myth, and ideology.
• Analyse central teachings in one religion: nature of divinity, humanity, evil, overcoming evil, life after death. - Normative Sources:
• Understand oral and written traditions and sacred texts.
• Study origins and development of normative sources.
• Understand norms as standard patterns of behaviour.
Formal and Informal Assessment
• SBA (Formal): Project requiring resource collection outside contact time, completed in class.
• Mid-year Examination
• Informal Tasks: At least one per week.
Term 3: Worldviews, Science, Human Rights, and Trial Examination (2026)
Term 3 (Weeks 1–11) focuses on interpreting religious texts, analysing secular worldviews, religion and natural science, and human rights. The term ends with the Trial Examination.
Core Concepts, Skills and Values
- Interpreting Normative Sources:
• Hermeneutical principles: historical context, clearest meaning, figurative meaning, grammar.
• Interpretation of sources from ATR, Bible, Quran, Tanach, Vedas, and Pali Canon.
• Address misinterpretation of texts. - Secular Worldviews:
• Historical origins and development of secularism.
• Analyse at least two worldviews: Atheism, Agnosticism, Humanism, Materialism. - Religion and the Natural Sciences:
• Creation vs evolution
• Astronomy debates (Heliocentric vs geocentric)
• Darwin’s theory of evolution
• Scientific and religious explanations - Religious Freedom, Human Rights and Responsibilities:
• Human rights sources in different religions.
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights and religious objections.
• Practical involvement of religions, such as Gift of the Givers and the Salvation Army.
Formal Assessment: Trial Examination
• SBA: Trial Examination
• Covers all Grade 12 content and examinable Grade 10–11 topics.
Examination Structure
Paper 1
• Conceptual distinctions
• Unique features
• Religious teachings
• Media influences
• Religious freedom
• Religion in areas of conflict
• Grade 10: Dimensions of religion
Paper 2
• Internal differentiations
• Inter-religious relationships
• Central teachings
• Normative sources and interpretation
• Secular worldviews
• Social problem strategy development
• Grade 11: Religion and the state, rituals and their roles
Term 4: Final Consolidation and Examination (2026)
Term 4 (Weeks 1–10) focuses on consolidation and preparation for the Final NSC Examination.
Consolidation Focus Areas
• Conceptual distinctions
• Internal differentiations
• Unique features
• Inter-religious relationships (history and present)
• Religious freedom and human rights
• Media and religion
• Religion in conflict situations
• Religion and natural sciences
• Central teachings across religions
• Interpretation of normative sources
Formal Assessment
• Final NSC Examination:
The structure mirrors the Trial Examination (Paper 1 and Paper 2).
Resources for Enhanced Learning (All Terms)
Recommended resources include dictionaries, newspaper articles, case studies, videos, PowerPoint presentations, guest speakers, graphic organisers (such as KWHL charts), power posters, stimuli for classroom discussions, and selected social media platforms to support kinaesthetic learning.