Umalusi said South Africa did not have the lowest pass mark globally, citing that other nations have pass marks going below 20%.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube recently confirmed that there are no immediate plans to raise the controversial 30% minimum pass mark to 50% in schools, despite ongoing public concern about the low threshold.
Gwarube’s clarification came in response to a parliamentary question from Build One South Africa Deputy Leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, who queried whether the department intended to implement higher passing standards.While acknowledging widespread concerns about the current pass mark, the minister, who took office in June 2024, said she needed more time to thoroughly assess the education sector’s challenges before making such significant changes.
“This council will be able to look at how best we strengthen the curriculum; what interventions are needed and how best to benchmark our performance with international best practice.” “Some systems have marked as low as 17% on a converted scale. But this merely emphasises the problematic nature of comparison at the superficial level of grades or percentages.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SA's Education System In Crisis, Says Basic Education MinisterBasic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has declared that South Africa's education system is in crisis, citing years of budget cuts, economic stagnation, and fiscal mismanagement. Gwarube, who was deployed by the DA, highlighted the dire financial situation facing the sector during a media briefing, stating that provinces are struggling to fund essential services like textbooks, administration support, and scholar transport programs.
Read more »
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube Discusses Long-Term Effects of Budget CutsThe basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube said provincial departments will struggle in the next few years because of the budget cuts the department experienced.
Read more »
Funding crisis is challenging but not insurmountable - Basic Education DeptRecently, provincial education departments across the country have announced plans to cut down on contracted staff and freeze new appointments due to budget cuts.
Read more »
Basic Education in SA is in a messMany are aware of the alarmingly poor standard of education, especially in township schools where the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union has been allowed to run rampant, pushing education departments and officials around and often spending time attacking politicians at meetings that interfere with the classroom time of our children.
Read more »
'We cannot afford to be shedding educator jobs,' says Basic Education Minister Siviwe GwarubeThe Minister of Basic Education has assured teachers would not be facing retrenchments in 2025.
Read more »
Bela Act a solution to history of language oppression in SA educationThe Basic Education Laws Amendment Act should not be used as a political tool by parties
Read more »