28 November 2025
House Chairperson,
December is a critical period both globally and within our own country, as we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. Allow me to utilise this solemn moment upon all men across the length and breadth of our nation to rise as champions in the fight against gender-based violence and child abuse.
This growing scourge continues to undermine the very fabric of our society. It has a profoundly damaging impact on the Basic Education sector, where the safety, dignity and holistic development of our learners must remain paramount. It is therefore incumbent upon us, particularly men, to become active agents of change, to confront harmful norms and to build a future grounded in respect, equality and justice.
Honourable Chairperson,
The continuous improvement of our education system is our collective responsibility. Education is a critical developmental instrument that must assist us to grapple with the legacies of colonialism of a special type towards breaking the chains of poverty, reducing inequality and expanding opportunities of self-development and upward mobility for all, regardless of race, class and socioeconomic context
I want to place this on record that we cannot grow public confidence in our education system without being honest about performance.
We must dispel the persistent and misleading narratives regarding the National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass requirements. Let it be stated unambiguously that 30% is not a pass mark in the curriculum of education. A candidate who attains an overall aggregate of 30% across the subjects written will not meet the minimum requirements for a pass. There are established subject-specific thresholds and promotional criteria that must be satisfied, and an aggregate of 30% falls far short of these standards. There can be no ambiguity on this matter.
The NSC pass requirements are as follows –
Bachelor pass requirements – a candidate must obtain at least 40% for the candidate’s Home Language (this is compulsory); must get at least 50% for the candidate’s four (4) other subjects, excluding Life Orientations; must obtain at least 30% for the language of learning and teaching (LOLT) of the Higher Education Institution; must obtain at least 30% for one (1) other subjects; and must pass at least six (6) of the seven (7) subjects.
Diploma pass requirements – must obtain at least 40% for the candidate’s Home Language (this is compulsory); must obtain at 7 least 40% for three (3) of other subjects, excluding Life Orientation; must get at least 30% for the language of learning and teaching (LOLT) of the Higher Education Institution; must obtain at least 30% for one (1) other subjects; and must pass at least six (6) of the seven (7) subjects.
Higher Certificate pass requirements – a candidate must obtain at least 40% for the candidate’s Home Language (this is compulsory); must get at least 30% for the language of learning and teaching (LOLT) of the Higher Education Institution; must obtain at least 40% for two (2) other subjects; must obtain at least 30% for three (3) other subjects; and must pass at least six (6) of the seven (7) subjects.
Therefore, Honourable Members, it is evident that each NSC level has its own set of subject combinations and minimum percentage marks. The 30% requirement applies only to specific subjects in a particular combination, and never as a blanket threshold for passing matric. The idea that a learner can get 30% in all subjects and pass matric is incorrect. We must stress this point to ensure understanding and dispel misconceptions that undermine our education system.
Honourable Chairperson,
We live in a diverse and ever-evolving society. Our education system cannot be reduced to a single percentage, but must be engaged with in a nuanced manner that appreciates its historical and present realities. It must equip our learners to meaningfully contribute to all sectors of society. As such, differentiated pass requirements ensure that learners are assessed on their different capacities and prepared for diverse pathways, as demonstrated in the three-stream model of academic, vocational, and occupational training.
The effectiveness of our education will continue to be undermined if we do not urgently tackle the structural inequalities that still plague our education system. We must swiftly resolve the unevenness in teacher training, resource disparities between schools, infrastructure backlogs and curriculum inconsistencies, all of which shape learners’ performance.
Notwithstanding these challenges, we must continue to build on the strides our NSC has made toward global recognition, with our qualifications benchmarked against international standards. We take pride in the fact that the calibre of learners produced in South Africa is capable of competing and succeeding in higher education institutions across the world in various fields, such as medicine and engineering.
Honourable Chairperson,
The ANC remains steadfast in advancing the aspirations of the Freedom Charter, adopted in 1955 in Kliptown, which boldly declared that “The doors of learning and culture shall be opened to all.”
As the ANC-led government, we will continue to give life to this historic mandate by expanding access, strengthening equity and ensuring that every child, regardless of their educational circumstance, has the opportunity to realise their full potential through quality education.
Therefore, any reforms to the NSC minimum pass requirements cannot be divorced from broader social transformation objectives, both as a constitutional obligation enshrined in section 29 and as a historical duty committed to advancing the National Democratic Revolution.
I thank you!