Basic Education Department raises pass mark
METRO – South African pupils will have to work much harder as the pass mark has been increased to 40 and 50 percent for languages.
The Basic Education Department announced that they have raised the pass mark for Grades 7 to 9 on 23 November.
The pass mark has been raised to 50 per cent for home language and 40 percent for additional language.
The original pass mark was 30 per cent for all subjects. Pupils will now be expected to pass eight out of the nine subjects. Previously, they could be promoted if they passed only seven subjects.
In a statement basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said, “This is in keeping with the department’s plan to raise the benchmark for learning achievement. It would be unfair to the 2014 cohort of learners to bear the brunt of a systemic change.”
School heads and district managers have been provided with guidelines to follow a “closely-controlled and strictly-managed process,” if necessary.
“Where there is a substantial drop in the school performance, the district manager will make adjustments to the results within clearly defined parameters. There is a need for the department to manage the transition and the possible depressed learner performance,” said Mhlanga.
Vice principal of Roosevelt High School Henk Ferreira said, “The changes are good, but have an effect on the numbers of pupils who failed but would have passed.”
This was in response to the changes coming into effect immediately.
The Basic Education Department instructed schools across the country to adjust pupil’s scores and award an extra 10 marks, to ensure that pupils are not affected by the raise.
According to Ferreira, people living in the rural areas would be the most affected.
“People who don’t speak English and Afrikaans will be affected because it may not be their first or second language.”
Ferreira however admitted that the changes will encourage pupils to work harder.
“More time should be spent in getting the basics ready. We need quality teachers who can work with learners and ensure they achieve great results other than just raising the pass mark,” he said.
