Parliament yesterday rejected a motion that sought to raise the current 30% National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric pass mark.

The proposal, which aimed to increase the minimum pass mark to 50%, was opposed by the country’s two largest political parties, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Build One South Africa (BOSA) spokesperson Roger Solomon said the motion was important because it highlighted the potential of young learners to achieve higher results if educational standards were raised.

“The discussion brings attention to ongoing concerns about the quality of education and the need for meaningful reforms to better prepare students for further studies and the job market.”

Solomon criticised the current 30% benchmark, saying it entrenches mediocrity and low expectations, leaving learners ill-prepared for tertiary education and employment opportunities.

“The pass mark is nothing more than outdated education in this modern era. Our young people are asked to aim low while falling below global benchmarks, and defending this policy ensures that many leave school qualified for unemployment rather than employment.”

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube explained that to pass the NSC, a learner must meet a three-tier set of subject requirements: 40% in a home language, 40% in two other subjects, and 30% in three additional subjects.

She stressed that higher percentage thresholds apply for obtaining bachelor or diploma passes.

Meanwhile, Mandla Shikwambana of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) argued that the 30% threshold is inadequate for preparing a generation competing in a knowledge-based economy.

“A learner who achieves a 30% pass rate is not ready for the demands of higher education or the modern workforce. We can’t continue pretending otherwise.”

Solomon also noted that, while the motion was rejected, similar discussions could be revisited in the future to continue addressing concerns about education standards and learner outcomes.