DBE clarifies math pass requirements

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“The Department of Basic Education has noted with enormous disappointment, social media posts suggesting that the minimum pass requirements for mathematics have been lowered to 20% in the Senior Phase – Grades 7 to 9,” it said.

This after several news platforms recently reported that the minimum pass requirement for mathematics has been lowered. The department said the erroneous reports first surfaced in 2016.

The DBE clarified that there is no change to the minimum pass requirements for mathematics in Grade 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

The minister in 2016 made a special concession as part of a transitional arrangement following the implementation of the new Curriculum Assessment and Policy Statement (CAPS) in the senior phase schools.

“Simply put, the concession only applied to Grades 7-9 learners, who had passed all the requisite subjects, except for mathematics, to be promoted to the next grade. When promoted, these learners would be allowed to opt for mathematical literacy, rather than continuing with pure mathematics,” the department said in a recent statement.