The Revised National Curriculum Statement is not a new curriculum but a streamlining and strengthening of the Curriculum 2005. Its purpose is to lay the foundation for a single national core syllabus, focusing on the structure and design of the curriculum, teacher orientation, training and development, learning support materials, provincial support to teachers in schools and implementation time-frames. This document introduces and provides background to the eight 'Learning Area Statements': (Languages, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Arts and Culture, Life Orientation, Economics and Management Sciences and Technology) that form the foundation of the Revised National Curriculum Statement Grades R-9 (Schools) in the general education and training band.