{"id":824383,"date":"2025-05-20T11:15:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T09:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=824383"},"modified":"2025-05-20T11:15:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T09:15:40","slug":"30-matric-pass-mark-could-change-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/824383\/30-matric-pass-mark-could-change-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"30% matric pass mark could change in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Department of Education is forming a council to investigate how South Africa can improve its education standards, including reviewing the country\u2019s matric pass mark.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was revealed by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, in a recent parliamentary Q&amp;A, where she highlighted that any decision to adjust the pass mark requires careful consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For these reasons, the minister noted that the National Education and Training Council (NETC) is being formed in line with her commitment to evidence-based policymaking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe call for nominations for NETC members closed at the end of January 2025, and the selection process is underway,\u201d said Gwarube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She added that once operational, the NETC will focus on providing expert guidance on the review of National Senior Certificate pass requirements, among other things.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAny potential changes to pass requirements or curriculum structure must be evidence-based, internationally benchmarked, and aligned with South Africa\u2019s developmental needs,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The current 30% pass mark has long been controversial, with many educators and stakeholders arguing that it may undermine students\u2019 academic potential and the value of qualifications like the National Senior Certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Education analyst Dr Jonathan Jansen has said that a low pass mark fails to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge they need to succeed beyond school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He added that this leads to increased dropout rates at universities where students struggle to meet the higher academic expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Professor Mary Metcalfe, an education specialist, added that setting the passing threshold at 30% might create the impression that students are meeting competency levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is even though their understanding of essential subjects is quite limited. This could ultimately affect the overall educational standards in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the department has hit back at claims that South Africa has a 30% pass mark, saying that this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the pass requirements for matric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Specifically, the department outlined that any learner with an aggregate 30% result would fail. Instead, the National Senior Certificate requirements include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At least 40% for the Home Language (Compulsory);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At least 40% for TWO other subjects;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At least 30% for THREE other subjects;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pass at least 6 out of 7 subjects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this clarification, major problems remain within the country&#8217;s education system, which is evident in international benchmarks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>International benchmarks, such as TIMMS and PIRLS, show that only 20% of South African learners perform appropriately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Previous Education Minister Angie Motshekga noted that 81% of South African children cannot read for comprehension in any of the 11 official languages by the age of 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other factors impact the quality of education in South Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Siviwe-Gwarube.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Siviwe-Gwarube-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-802357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Siviwe-Gwarube-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Siviwe-Gwarube-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Siviwe-Gwarube-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Siviwe-Gwarube.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Although the NETC is considering changing the pass mark, Gwarube stressed that the debate around pass marks cannot be separated from broader systemic improvements.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is why my department is taking a comprehensive approach\u2014focusing on teacher development, strengthened curriculum delivery, enhanced learning materials, and infrastructure expansion.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gwarube highlighted the importance of protecting the amount of time students spend in the classroom.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe must maximise teaching and learning hours and minimise disruptions, such as school closures, absenteeism, and administrative burdens,\u201d she said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also noted the need for quality teachers, adding that teachers must be equipped with both subject knowledge and pedagogical skills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOngoing training and support are critical, especially in subjects like Mathematics, Science, and Language,\u201d she said. Access to essential learning materials is another point of concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEvery learner and teacher must have textbooks, digital content, and supplementary aids to ensure equity and effective curriculum delivery,\u201d Gwarube explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also pointed to assessment as a key tool for intervention. \u201cEffective assessment strategies must identify learning gaps early, so we can intervene before these gaps become entrenched,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the NETC function, Gwarube said interventions by her department will include expanded teacher development, improved access to learning materials, strengthened remedial programmes, and infrastructure support in under-resourced schools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is not just about numerical benchmarks\u2014it\u2019s about ensuring that every learner receives the support they need to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She reaffirmed that the DBE will continue to work closely with provincial departments and the NETC to build a stronger, more equitable, and forward-looking education system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt will prepare every learner, regardless of their background, for meaningful participation in the economy and society,\u201d she said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Education is creating a council to explore ways to improve education standards in South Africa, including reviewing the matric pass mark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":806605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[9335,17963,853,22579],"class_list":["post-824383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government","tag-department-of-education","tag-parliamentary-qa","tag-south-africa","tag-the-national-education-and-training-council-netc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=824383"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":824773,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824383\/revisions\/824773"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/806605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=824383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=824383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=824383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}