Motshekga hits back at ‘30% pass mark’ critics
Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga has again hit back at critics who say the country’s pass mark for the National Senior Certificate is 30%.
Education experts and opposition parties have previously criticised the Department of Basic Education (DBE) over the fact that the lowest possible pass mark for a subject is 30%.
Motshekga and Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane were at Kgatoentle Secondary School in Garankuwa on Wednesday for the official start of the 2024 academic year.
Motshekga said the “30% pass mark” is a myth that gets perpetuated each year, but pupils also cannot be punished for a one-subject failure.
“I am not going make a child repeat a class because of 30% pass in Afrikaans when they have at least 4 level 7s for other subjects,” said Motshekga.
"We assess pupils based on five subjects; we do not combine all the marks to get a pass; that's how things were done in the past; we do not do that anymore".
#BackToSchool2024 Education Minister Angie Motshekga tells the learners that it is not true that she is encouraging a 30% pass.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 17, 2024
“But I am not gonna make a child repeat a class because of 30% pass in Afrikaans when they have at least 4 level 7s for other subjects,” pic.twitter.com/8ZttSUKS38
