Cultural Affairs and Sport

During the 2025/26 financial year, the Department continued to expand and support programmes that use museums as educational resources for schools and youth groups. This expansion is evident in the increased reach and diversification of programme offerings across affiliated museums.

DCAS provides support to 32 affiliated museums through the Museological Services unit situated within the Directorate: Museums, Heritage and Geographical Names. Support provided by Museological Services includes:

1. Training and capacity building – an in-person workshop in four regions in collaboration with WCED
2. Preparing sample CAPS aligned lesson plans
3. Providing a helpdesk service to support educators at museums.

Twenty-four (24) of the 32 museums presented CAPS aligned educational programmes reaching 13 536 learners during the financial year.

The programmes focused mainly on primary school learners. The most popular programmes are:

• Local history (435)
• National symbols (1340)
• Anti-bullying programmes (1057)
• History of Khoekhoen and San people (970)

Environmental programmes were introduced in 2025 and 1050 learners participated in the six (6) lesson plans provided.

In addition, public programmes on commemorative and significant days are organised.

An annual speech competition for English second language speakers in Grades 10 and 11 is also hosted. The theme of the competition is determined by the International Museum Day theme of the year, and the local competitions are held on or around International Museum Day, i.e. 18 May.  The competition takes place over three rounds, namely:

• A local round per participating museum
• The top three speakers per local competition participate in a regional competition
• The top three speakers per regional competition competed to determine the provincial winner.

In 2025, 204 learners representing 57 schools participated in the competition. Keshni Farao from Hawston Secondary School was the 2025 provincial winner.