Tomorrow, Tuesday 02 December 2025, Parliament will vote on BOSA’s historic motion to improve education in South Africa by ending the 30% pass mark for matric subjects.
Last Friday, Parliament debated this motion, with all parties putting forward their view on the matter. While many parties argued in support of our motion, others looked for excuses and ways out.
The ANC and DA in particular argued that we can’t change the pass mark because government is struggling to improve the education system.
This is a cop-out by the ANC/DA national government coalition and comes as no surprise. Keeping the 30% pass mark serves government well, as it hides the shortcomings and gives an illusion of success. It inflates pass rates and masks systemic failure. We must do better and set our gaze higher.
Tomorrow’s vote is a test of who truly cares about the future of our children, and who wants young people to continue passing at 30%
We appeal to all citizens to challenge their party to vote in support of this motion, and to place the interests of young people first.
BOSA has long called for the current 30% pass mark for matric subjects to be scrapped and replaced with a minimum standard of 50%. A 30% pass mark not only diminishes the intellectual potential of South Africa’s youth but also entrenches mediocrity and low expectations.
We remain committed to implementing meaningful reforms that will ensure every South African child has access to a quality education.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons
BOSA Spokesperson
072 299 3551