Cii Radio| Ayesha Ismail| 08 December 1438| 08 Rabi ul Awal 1438
The Western Cape Education Department says a national directive to lower the pass mark for mathematics to 20% comes with strict conditions.
Just before the weekend, the Department of Basic Education issued a circular announcing the reduction in the pass requirement for pupils in grades 7 to 9.
Before this, learners needed at least 40% in mathematics to pass the year.
Western Cape Education head Brian Schreuder says the Department of Basic Education found the requirement prevents learners who excel in other areas from advancing to the next grade.
“There are learners who are passing all their subjects, six of their seven subjects but failing mathematics. And as a consequence, particularly in grade 9, they fail their standard because mathematics has now become a compulsory pass subject.”
Schreuder says it’s only those learners who would benefits from this lowered requirement.
“Tor those learners who pass everything except mathematics, the mathematics can be condoned so that they can continue into the FET or grade 10 but not be permitted to take mathematics as a subject unless they take mathematics literacy.”
He, however, adds the Western Cape Department feels 20% is too low and plans to engage with the Department of Basic Education on the matter in 2017.
Source – EWN news
