Gwarube Slams Political ‘Myth’: “30% Is Not The Matric Pass Mark”

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called on political parties to stop spreading what she described as a misleading perception that 30% is the official matric pass mark.

Speaking at the release of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results on Monday, Gwarube warned that the persistent claim risks discouraging learners from striving for excellence.

“South Africans, we must put a stubborn myth to rest: 30% is not the matric pass mark,” she said.

How the Matric Pass System Actually Works

The class of 2025 recorded an overall pass rate of 88%. To obtain a Higher Certificate pass, learners must meet minimum requirements across several subjects — not a single percentage.

Pupils are required to achieve:

• 40% in their home language
• 40% in two additional subjects
• 30% in other subjects

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Despite this, parties such as Build One SA have repeatedly campaigned for the removal of what they label the “30% pass mark”. However, the National Assembly rejected a proposal to increase the minimum subject pass mark to 50%.

‘One Percentage Does Not Fit All’, Says Gwarube 

Gwarube argued that focusing on one number ignores the reality that not all learners aim to attend university, pointing to the wide range of career and vocational pathways within the education system.

“Some intend to gain skills for the world of work, while others pursue different vocational paths allowed by our system. When we use ‘sloganism’, we discourage pupils who are differently talented.”

She emphasised that the NSC is awarded based on meeting requirements across a full subject package, with higher thresholds applying to certain post-school pathways.

To address learning gaps earlier, Gwarube said the National Education and Training Council, established last year, is reviewing assessment and progression policies from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

“Pupils need to achieve the right marks in the right subjects to gain entry into their preferred programmes at a higher education level.”

The minister stressed that simply adjusting percentages will not improve education outcomes.

“Slogans or percentages alone will not improve pupil outcomes. What matters is whether our standards, progression and support across the entire schooling journey add up to real readiness,” she said.

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