Maths Literacy and 30% Pass Rate: A Barrier to South Africa’s Skills Crisis

South Africa’s education system is facing intense scrutiny as it continues to churn out graduates unequipped for the demands of a global technology economy. One of the key areas under fire is the country’s reliance on Maths Literacy and its controversial 30% pass rate, which critics argue are exacerbating the skills crisis and contributing to the country’s high unemployment rates.

Busi Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, has called for urgent intervention, stating that current educational standards are not preparing students for the digital and economic challenges that lie ahead. “Teaching our kids Maths Literacy and allowing them to pass at 30% doesn’t help drive the agenda of digital and economic inclusion,” Mavuso emphasized during a panel discussion at the release of the Our Digital Horizons report.

The report, produced by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in collaboration with Naspers, revealed a critical gap in South Africa’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) output. According to the findings, only 18% of South African graduates specialize in STEM fields, compared to over 30% in countries like India, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea—nations recognized as leaders in the global digital economy.

For Mavuso and other business leaders, the low number of STEM graduates directly ties to the country’s poor performance in basic education. “I really hope that, from a government perspective, we’re looking at addressing the standards and quality of basic education,” Mavuso added.

A Crisis Beyond Unemployment

South Africa’s unemployment rate has reached staggering levels, with a reported 33.5% of the population out of work. When including discouraged jobseekers, that number climbs to an alarming 42.6%. Bloomberg’s data shows that South Africa holds the highest unemployment rate among all the countries it tracks. Youth unemployment is even more dire, with 35.2% of individuals aged 15–34 neither working nor in education or training.

Andile Khumalo, the program director of the event, emphasized that the issue isn’t just unemployment—it’s unemployability. “We don’t have an unemployment problem. We have an unemployability problem,” Khumalo argued. Many young South Africans lack the skills required to succeed in the formal job market, an issue compounded by an education system that fails to produce enough qualified graduates in key fields like maths and science.

“It can’t be right that in South Africa today, we still have schools that don’t teach maths and science because they don’t have maths and science teachers,” Mavuso stated. Without addressing these fundamental issues in education, South Africa stands little chance of doubling its STEM graduate numbers, as recommended in the Our Digital Horizons report.

The Debate Over the 30% Pass Mark

The Department of Basic Education has long been criticized for South Africa’s 30% matric pass mark, with detractors arguing that it sets the bar too low for students. However, the department has defended the policy, claiming that it is misunderstood.

“If you get 30% in all the subjects, then you don’t pass. That’s why we are saying the 30% is not a pass,” said basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga. He explained that South Africa has three levels of matriculation: bachelor’s, diploma, and higher certificate, each requiring different subject pass rates.

For a bachelor’s pass, students need at least 50% in four subjects, while a diploma pass requires 40% in four subjects. Matriculants can also achieve a higher certificate if they score 40% in three subjects and 30% in the others. Mhlanga further noted that South African graduates are gaining admission to higher education institutions around the world, a sign that the current standards are effective.

“The standard of education here equips the young person to go anywhere in the world,” Mhlanga said.

A Call for Reform

Despite the Department of Basic Education’s defense, critics like Mavuso believe that the system needs to be overhauled. She pointed out that without a dramatic increase in the number of qualified STEM graduates, South Africa risks falling further behind in the global digital economy.

“If there’s one big takeout from this report, it’s really trying to ensure that our education system responds to where the country, the global economy, the world is going,” Mavuso concluded.

For South Africa to compete on a global stage, the country’s education system must evolve—focusing on quality over quantity, ensuring access to proper resources, and setting higher standards to better prepare the next generation for the challenges of the modern workforce.