Department dismisses ’20 percent pass mark’ for maths

THE Department of Basic Education recently put forward a policy for the reduction in the maths pass requirement for pupils in grades seven to nine – sparking a hot debate.

However on Friday the department dismissed reports which suggested that the pass mark for mathematics had been lowered to 20 percent.

According to the department there is no such thing as a 20% pass mark for mathematics and there has been no change in the progression policy to reflect such.

‘Most people who are familiar with the South African education system will recall that in the past, if you failed a language you would fail the year,’ it said in a statement.

‘You could fail mathematics and still pass the year if you passed your languages with above 40% and all of your other subjects.

‘After the introduction of the new curriculum (CAPS) in 2014 the requirements changed.

‘The DBE raised the bar in terms of the pass criteria.

‘In addition to passing your two language subjects you have to pass one of them i.e. home language at minimum 50% and you have to pass mathematics at minimum 40%.

‘In essence what the policy states that even if you pass all of your other subjects with distinctions, but got less than 40% for mathematics you failed the year.’

Numbers, not everyone’s game
The department further defended its policy by noting that not everyone is mathematically inclined.

‘Some people are more inclined towards the arts; others are better with technical subjects, making this policy unfair to those who are forced to take mathematics but are not good at it,’ said the department.

In addition, the choice to do mathematics or mathematics literacy came in at grade 10 level, meaning it was compulsory for pupils in grades seven, eight, and nine to do pure mathematics.

Taking note of concerns around the suitability of the policy raised with the department by school principals and provincial education departments, the department decided to take the policy under review.

‘The concern was that learners who could go to the next grade based on meeting all other pass criteria were being held back in the grade unnecessarily.

‘It has been shown that grade repetition can lead to increased school dropout, increased truancy and a number of other adverse effects.

‘While the policy is under review a decision was taken to condone those who passed all the subjects except that they did not meet the 40% criteria in Mathematics to the next grade.

‘That is if they met all other pass requirements and obtained more than 20% in mathematics.’

The department added that its decision is only applicable to senior phase learners and only applicable for the 2016 cohort of learners.

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