Cape Town – Over 2 000 people have reportedly signed Mmusi Maimane’s petition to end South Africa’s Matric pass mark of 30%.
According to The South African, Maimane launched the petition to the Minister of Basic Education Matsie Angelina Motshekga on Thursday.
Maimane contends that the 30% pass mark is detrimental to learners, the education system, and the economy in the long run.
“With South Africa top of the youth unemployment crisis globally, the continued matric pass mark requirement of just 30% cannot continue a day longer. A meagre 30% pass hurts our pupils, the education system, and in the long run the economy,” Mamimane said.
ALSO READ: Mmusi Maimane wants minister to explain Natasha Thahane funding drama
He continued: “We call on Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, to increase the matric pass mark to 50%, to include the 2021 matric year results to be released this month. We must equip our young people to compete and win in the global economy. And they can with quality education. This begins by upping the matric pass mark.”
A Times Live report said that this is not the first time Maimane has been vocal about putting an end to the 30% pass mark. Last year, he said the pass mark was not enough to equip school-leaving pupils for the demands of the country’s development.
“Our biggest challenge is education. To fix our education system, we must have motivated, qualified and ambitious teachers in every classroom. We must end the 30% pass mark syndrome,” the report quoted him as saying.
The number of signatures on Maimane’s petition is steadily growing.
Twitter, on the other hand, has been divided on the issue, with some backing him and saying that the low pass rate lowers the bar even further.
Others, however, are opposed to the petition, claiming that it will make no difference because there are no jobs in SA whether you pass with 30% or 70%.
Take a look at some of the Twitter reactions below:
This End 30% Matric doesn’t make sense. Our entire education system should be reconstructed. I mean why our primary schools syllabus still have things like Adolf Hitler history?
— Calvin Morpheus Monethi ??☓?? (@CMonethi) January 7, 2022
I dont see how a higher pass rate is going to solve anything, we will just have more kids re-doing matric over and over, and no space to teach them all in our schools.. we need to focus on the quality of our education in public schools, not the pass rate! – End 30% Matric
— ❤ Lauren (@ShesABadass_xo) January 7, 2022
South Africa already has a reputation for having a poor education system, particularly in the fields of mathematics and science, and the low pass mark is often cited as one of the biggest problems, as it sets the bar quite low in assessment. End 30% matric pass mark!
— The Great Venda (@JustJamal_) January 7, 2022
30% Requires No Effort
Dear Minister Of Education What Were You Doing 2021?
End 30% Matric ?— Natty Mbo?? (@NattyZay) January 7, 2022
END 30% Matric they say….what about those schools from the townships and rural with no resources at all? I’m not against it just asking…..
— Zethu? ? (@MsNtfulini) January 7, 2022
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Getty Images
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
