BOSA Fails to Have Matric Pass Mark Raised

An attempt by Build One South Africa (BOSA) to raise the matric pass mark in South Africa from 30% to 50% has failed.

BOSA had put forward a motion in the National Assembly to have the matric pass mark raised. Parties voted on the motion earlier this week.

BOSA, which is led by former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane, had said in a statement before the vote, “A 30% pass mark not only diminishes the intellectual potential of South Africa’s youth but also entrenches mediocrity and low expectations.”

The motion was defeated by 190 votes to 87, with the two biggest parties in the national coalition government, the DA and the African National Congress (ANC), voting against it.

During the debate around BOSA’s motion, Siviwe Gwarube, the minister of basic education, said pupils pass the National Senior Certificate (as matric is officially known) only if they achieve at least 40% in their home language, 40% in two further subjects, and 30% in three others. She added that higher marks are required for diploma and bachelor passes, and that this long-standing, multi-subject structure is in line with international practice.