Parly rejects Maimane’s bid to have matric pass mark increased to 50%

Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane's motion to have the matric pass mark increased from 30% to 50% has been rejected by the National Assembly.

The motion, introduced by Maimane, advocated for a gradual increase in the 30% benchmark, saying the low pass rate has wider implications for learners in the future.

But the move that called for greater basic education reforms was rejected by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), but received support from other opposition parties.

Maimane said the low 30% pass mark has been set up by the education authorities to "beef up" the pass rate numbers.

He added that the debate on his motion was important because young people can prove to do better if they receive the proper Early Childhood Development (ECD) and primary school education.

“Ending the 30% pass mark is not the only standalone reform. It signals the seriousness that we uphold our standards”

But on Tuesday night, parties voted on the motion, with the two biggest parties, the ANC and DA, voting against it, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and ActionSA voted in support of the motion.

The motion fell away, but a similar motion can be tabled again in the future.