Mmusi Maimane’s BuildOne South Africa (BOSA) started a petition in a bid to get the pass mark increased from 30% to 50%, citing youth unemployment as one of the key reasons.
In a petition launched on change.org, the party revealed that 14 000 signatures have been signed already, as BOSA said South Africa is one of the leading countries when it comes to youth unemployment.
‘With South Africa top of the youth unemployment crisis globally, the continued matric pass mark requirement of just 30% cannot continue a day longer,’ BOSA said.
‘A meagre 30% pass hurts our pupils, the education system, and in the long run the economy.’
BOSA argued that a 30% pass mark undermined the intellect of South Africa’s youth, and an increase in the pass mark would lead to greater opportunity for the youth, including an obfuscation of the basic education crisis, education leaders to escape accountability, and the enchantment of mediocrity and low expectations.
‘We call on Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, to commit to scrapping this low standard and increasing the matric pass mark to 50%.’
‘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,’ BOSA concluded.
According to TimesLIVE, BOSA’s call for a higher pass mark is not new.
Last year, BOSA deputy president, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster raised the issue in Parliament with Minister of Education, Siviwe Gwarube, to raise the pass mark to 50%.
