Members of Parliament (MPs) are set to cast their votes on a pivotal issue that could reshape the educational landscape in the country: the scrapping of the longstanding 30% pass mark for matriculants.
The Tuesday vote comes in light of growing concerns over educational standards and the efficacy of the current minimum requirements for high school students.
At the heart of this debate is Mmusi Maimane, the leader of Build One SA (Bosa), who has been vocal about the need to reassess the 30% threshold that many argue undermines the academic potential of students.
Maimane calls for a strategic reevaluation of educational standards, advocating for a gradual increase of the pass mark to 50%—a move he believes will promote genuine academic excellence and accountability among educators.
“End the 30% pass mark now, this is what Bosa has been calling for for a long time now and yet the South African government seems to be committed to defending this policy… No one can be proficient in any subject by obtaining over 30%. It sets expectations low; it tells teachers that this is all they have to do,” he said.
Maimane said that Bosa tabled a motion and it was debated in a mini plenary of Parliament where many parties expressed their support to moving the pass mark to 50%.
He emphasised that the nation must aspire to meet or exceed the educational standards set by other countries. He argued that the current pass rate not only limits the ambitions of students but also reflects poorly on the government’s commitment to quality education.
“The parties who are against this 50% seem to forget that the countries we compete with, the same countries who came for the G20 have their pass rates higher than us. They ensure that younger people do better, yet the South African government wants to defend the 30% pass mark,” he said.
Support for Maimane’s proposal came from a variety of parties in the assembly, including representatives from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. Sihle Ngubane expressed strong agreement with the argument, articulating the need to allocate resources aimed at reducing socio-economic barriers that contribute to the ongoing challenges faced by learners in lower quintile schools.
“When we tell learners that 30% pass rate is enough, we are ignoring 70% of their potential. Education must be about teaching children to reach full potential, not embracing mediocrity as normal,” he said.
