In ten days time, matriculants will receive their final results after weeks of waiting. The results obtained by learners will have an impact on the next step of their education journal should they choose to further their knowledge and enter the world of tertiary education.
However in the run up to the release of the results, One SA Movement's Mmusi Maimane has slammed the 30% pass mark requirement. His petition against the 30% pass mark has garnered more than 1000 signatures.
Maimane argues that the impact of 30% based results announcements inflates success metrics, masks the real state of our education system and entrenched low expectations and stereotypes.
Elijah Mhlanga, Chief Director of Communications & Media at the Department of Basic Education (DBE) argues that Maimane does not fully understand the 30% pass mark.
He explains that there is a common misconception that if a learner achieved 30% in all their subjects they will pass their grade 12 year. This is not the case.
He explained that there are three different pass levels which will provide learners with different educational opportunities when they complete school.
Mhlanga said, “for those three categories (Different Pass levels) there are different past requirements so the message is that if you get 30% for all subjects, you failed. So we cannot say that 30% is the past mark”.
For more information on how matriculants’ marks are calculated CLICK HERE.
Professor Nicky Roberts from the University of Johannesburg says Maimane is 'woefully uninformed'. She believes his sentiments demonstrate that he does not have an understanding of how the education system works.
She says regardless of the mark obtained by the students, their hard work to obtain good results does make a difference when it comes to the prospective employees and educational opportunities.
Roberts cautioned, “ if students think that they're going to get by with four subjects at 50% and they're going for 51%, well then they're not equipping themselves either for the world of work or for future learning”.
She argues that an announcement that matriculants would need 50% to pass each subject would change absolutely nothing tomorrow. However, she says there are strategic interventions taking place with the introduction of teaching assistants and getting rid of ghost teachers.
