Beyond the Pass Mark: Uncovering the Real Issues in the South African Education System
Published on December 30, 2025 | By Luyanda Mtshali
The 30% debate is a perfect example of how we often seek simple solutions to complex problems, ignoring the harsh realities of a failing education system. It's not about the pass mark but more about the systemic issues that prevent learners from succeeding.
Teachers are doing their best but they lack the support and resources needed to get learners to a 50% pass. Changing the pass mark won't change this. It's a political gimmick that will expose the weaknesses in the system ,leading to higher failure rates and dropout rates without addressing the underlying issues.
Even if learners do start achieving 50% passes. the lack of access to universities and further education opportunities means that these achievements will be hollow. The focus should be on structural solutions and not just raising the pass mark. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) can't even meet its own minimum standards for teaching so why are we expecting more from learners? What is the science behind 50% being the magic number? Why not 80%? The quality of teaching and learning is what matters not just the pass mark.
To get better results, we need to fix the system fundamentally. We need more qualified teachers in public township and rural schools, reducing class sizes and improving school management. We need to invest in tutoring and after-school support programs and address the infrastructure issues that plague our schools. The DBE needs to meet and raise its own standards before requiring more from learners. This debate is based on populist lies and ignores the context of our education system. It's time to move beyond superficial solutions and address the real issues.
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