‘Demon-tormented’ school calms down

THE emotional turmoil at the Mumbwenge Combined School in the North, where children claimed to be terrorised by demons last year, seems to have simmered down.

Regional Education Director Josia Udjombala told The Namibian that the situation might return to normal with the help of psychologists from the Oshakati State Hospital. He said the psychologists had already visited the school and he was waiting for their findings and recommendations.Some pupils still have fainting spells, but the community now seems to be taking it in their stride.”I was told from the school that those pupils who are still collapsing, do so only at the end of periods and not in the middle of the periods as in the past, an indication that the situation might return to normal now,” Udjombala said.According to the acting school principal, Magnaem Shiimi, some pupils still scream and faint, and claim to be seeing supernatural beings, but the teachers and other pupils are not as frightened of the phenomenon as before.She said no religious groups were coming to the school in an attempt to exorcise the ‘demons’ anymore.Shiimi has been acting as principal since Udjombala suspended principal Helena Makili on January 6 to allow an investigation into allegations that she had caused chaos at the school and endangered the lives of people.Makili has been accused of allowing witchdoctors to come to the school and get involved in school matters – something that is not allowed.Udjombala also accused Makili of allowing disorder at the school and not disciplining pupils who assaulted their schoolmates.Some teachers, parents and children were not happy with the Director’s decision and demonstrated at his Ondangwa office, demanding Makili’s immediate reinstatement.However, after Udjombala explained the reasons for the suspension, children returned to school.He said the psychologists had already visited the school and he was waiting for their findings and recommendations.Some pupils still have fainting spells, but the community now seems to be taking it in their stride. “I was told from the school that those pupils who are still collapsing, do so only at the end of periods and not in the middle of the periods as in the past, an indication that the situation might return to normal now,” Udjombala said.According to the acting school principal, Magnaem Shiimi, some pupils still scream and faint, and claim to be seeing supernatural beings, but the teachers and other pupils are not as frightened of the phenomenon as before.She said no religious groups were coming to the school in an attempt to exorcise the ‘demons’ anymore.Shiimi has been acting as principal since Udjombala suspended principal Helena Makili on January 6 to allow an investigation into allegations that she had caused chaos at the school and endangered the lives of people.Makili has been accused of allowing witchdoctors to come to the school and get involved in school matters – something that is not allowed.Udjombala also accused Makili of allowing disorder at the school and not disciplining pupils who assaulted their schoolmates.Some teachers, parents and children were not happy with the Director’s decision and demonstrated at his Ondangwa office, demanding Makili’s immediate reinstatement.However, after Udjombala explained the reasons for the suspension, children returned to school.