Itchy, scratchy Omhanda school in the North reopens

THE Omhanda Combined School, in the Ohangwena Region, which was closed in June after pupils complained of itchiness, has been reopened.

The School Management and the Director of Education in the Ohangwena Region, Josia Udjombala, decided to close the school on June 22, after the pupils complained that they had been itching and scratching uncontrollably since March. The principal of Omhanda Combined School, Rebekka Naingwedja, said the school had 372 pupils.Before it was temporarily shut in June, 153 pupils had been transferred to other schools.The remaining pupils were sent home while authorities tried to find a solution to the problem.Naingwedja told The Namibian yesterday that the school reopened again on July 10, with only 145 pupils.According to the head of the school, the majority of the pupils affected by the itching were between the grades of 7 and 10.”This is really disrupting our school classes and we do not know what to do,” said school principal Naingwedja.”The situation is beyond the Ministry of Education.It is a health issue and the Ministry of Health and Social Services has to see what to do about it,” she said.Meanwhile, the Okankolo Constituency Councillor Joseph Iimbili reported that the itching problem had spread to one of the schools in Onyuulaye area.The principal of Omhanda Combined School, Rebekka Naingwedja, said the school had 372 pupils.Before it was temporarily shut in June, 153 pupils had been transferred to other schools.The remaining pupils were sent home while authorities tried to find a solution to the problem.Naingwedja told The Namibian yesterday that the school reopened again on July 10, with only 145 pupils.According to the head of the school, the majority of the pupils affected by the itching were between the grades of 7 and 10.”This is really disrupting our school classes and we do not know what to do,” said school principal Naingwedja.”The situation is beyond the Ministry of Education.It is a health issue and the Ministry of Health and Social Services has to see what to do about it,” she said.Meanwhile, the Okankolo Constituency Councillor Joseph Iimbili reported that the itching problem had spread to one of the schools in Onyuulaye area.