This phase of schooling consists of Grades R to 9. Grade R is also known as the Early Childhood Development (ECD) phase. Although grade R is a pre-school year, it is referred to as the first real year of formal schooling, since the NCS and Government policy both make provision for this grade to be formally 'attached' to the rest of the schooling system.

The General Education and Training Phase (GET) refers to the first ten years of formal schooling.

The National Curriculum Statement (NCS)segments the GET Phase of schooling into bands, known as:

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• Foundation Phase: Grades R to 3;
• Intermediate Phase: Grades 4 to 6;
• Senior Phase: Grades 7 to 9.

Please view the following links for additional information:

• The Department of Education
• PACE
• Subject Choice in Grade 9
• Subject and Career Choice Guidelines

View the following link to find FET specific information:

• List of FET colleges across SA