Raising the bar for matrics is in their own interests

Proposals to raise the matric pass threshold, in some subjects, from the disgracefully low 30% at present are a good start.

Among the recommendations tabled by the Department of Basic Education in parliament yesterday is that 40% be considered a pass for the basic matric certificate in the "language of learning and teaching'' (English in most cases) and two other subjects, and that 30% be achieved in three subjects.

Pupils writing the Higher Education Certificate, the Diploma Certificate and the Bachelor's Certificate would all need to score higher marks.

Other recommendations are that the utterly pointless life orientation be scrapped as a Grade 12 subject for exam purposes, that maths literacy be maintained and that a third, more technical, maths subject be introduced.

The proposals, which include adjustments to the degree of difficulty of exam questions, will need considerable fine-tuning and the deadlines for implementation will have to be carefully considered, but any attempt to raise the bar for matrics has to be welcomed.

This is despite the fact that the changes could negatively affect the recent upward trajectory of the matric pass rate.

Pass rates are meaningless when the value of a matric certificate is eroded to such an extent that large numbers of pupils are not properly equipped for the challenges of a modern workplace or higher education.

Or when hundreds of thousands of pupils drop out of the school system before reaching matric.

One of the abiding sources of inequality and poverty in our country is poor-quality education and the Department of Basic Education needs to be commended for trying to correct this.

But increasing the degree of difficulty for matrics has to be accompanied by major improvements in the quality of teaching and learning right from the foundation phase.