SHOCKING: ONLY 30 PASS AFRIKAANS AT THERESAPARK SECONDARY OUT OF 270 LEARNERS!

Parents demand urgent intervention at Theresapark Secondary amid academic and infrastructure crisis.

Tensions are rising at Theresapark Secondary School, where frustrated parents have accused the institution of failing its learners both academically and in maintaining basic learning conditions.

The concerns, which gained national attention following a report by eNCA, centre around what parents describe as a “deepening academic crisis” – highlighted by alarming results in Afrikaans among Grade 9 learners.

According to parents, only 30 out of 270 pupils passed the subject, a statistic that has triggered outrage and prompted urgent calls for accountability from school management.

For many families, the results are not just numbers, but a reflection of systemic failure.

Parents argue that Afrikaans, as a compulsory subject in many public schools, should not become a barrier to progression due to what they believe is poor teaching support, lack of resources, and weak academic intervention strategies.

Some have questioned whether learners are receiving adequate instruction or whether overcrowded classrooms are contributing to declining performance.

The school, located in the growing suburb of Theresapark in Akasia, Pretoria, has over the years experienced increased enrolment pressure, a trend common across parts of Gauteng where rapid population growth has strained public schooling infrastructure.

Community members say the pressure is now showing, with residents also accusing the school learners as bad influence to kids living in the suburb by loitering around the Dolfyn Park.

Beyond academics, parents have raised serious concerns about the sanitary conditions at the school, describing the environment as “unfit for effective learning.”

Complaints range from poorly maintained ablution facilities to general hygiene issues, which parents fear could expose learners to health risks.

“There is no dignity for our children in those conditions,” one parent reportedly said during a gathering outside the school, where parents demanded a meeting with the principal.

The situation reflects broader challenges within Gauteng’s education system, where infrastructure backlogs, overcrowding and resource constraints continue to affect township and suburban schools alike.

In some cases, learners are placed in schools that are already operating beyond capacity, further stretching available resources.

Parents at Theresapark Secondary now want immediate intervention from the Gauteng Department of Education, calling for:

• A full academic review of teaching standards, particularly in Afrikaans

• Urgent sanitation upgrades and maintenanceIncreased support for both educators and learners

• Transparent communication from school leadership

While school management had not publicly responded at the time of the broadcast, parents insist they will continue to apply pressure until tangible changes are made.

The unfolding situation highlights a critical issue: when academic performance declines and learning environments deteriorate, it is often the learners, many already facing socio-economic challenges, who bear the greatest burden.

As pressure mounts, all eyes will be on education authorities to determine whether swift corrective action can restore confidence in the school and safeguard the future of its learners