JERUSALEM – Could the satanist speculations at Jerusalem High be a result of exam anxiety or a matter of smoke and fire?

According to several learners, their panic buttons were triggered just before they had to write the siSwati first paper.

“Many of us experienced a moment of blankness, and as we were struggling to figure out what was on the question paper, a pastor came rushing to the school requesting to pray for the question papers and answer sheets claiming that there were evil spirits that had been cast on them,” said one of the learners.

Another pupil added that they had to stop everything and line up and the pastor prayed for each one of them. In a quest to dig deeper into the matter, Mpumalanga News visited the school and spoke to several people who confirmed that a pastor had indeed gone to the school to pray.

“We thought it was just a normal prayer that is usually conducted at the beginning of the exams, but we were a bit surprised why it took longer than normal and that was day two of the examinations,” said one of the vendors at the school gate.

One of the teachers confirmed that a pastor visited on that day before the learners wrote the paper.

“I was not part of the proceedings but I can confirm that a man of God came and a lengthy prayer was conducted,” said the teacher adding that he couldn’t comment further but referred this journalist to the principal.

The principal refused to comment on the matter saying that the media would have heard from the Department of Education if there were any problems regarding the exam process.

He added that it was not the first time allegations of devil worshippers toying with the learners’ minds surfaced at school. According to him, in 2013, a similar incident occurred.

The pupils alleged that there was a fellow learner who had always been suspected of being an agent of Satan and he’s apparently open about his affiliation.

Another concern raised by the learners was the graveyard which was situated right in front of the school.

“We are even afraid to come to the school for evening study sessions because there are spooky vibes here.

Where have you seen a cemetery in front of a school? We are not taken serious by the department. We are neighbours with the dead,” added a learner.

A former pupil stated that the graveyard had been there for a long time and rumours of ghosts were always spread, but nothing was ever proved.

This publication approached the spokesperson for the education department Mr Jasper Zwane,

“Negatives affects like panic attacks, exhaustion from studying throughout the night and utilisation of a packed study timetable may affect learners’ focus.

They should be encouraged to relax by taking a walk, talking to someone or being involved in their favourite hobbies, just to mention a few.”

He further advised that difficult questions might cause learners to freak out and told them not to stare at the question paper or answer sheet in despair, trying to come up with an answer.

“With mounting anxiety of the exam period, a learner may go blank in the examination room and this is common.

A pupil who experiences such a situation, can close his or her eyes and breathe in and out for a few minutes.

“The department has trauma-counselling officials who are on stand-by throughout this period to assist parents, teachers and learners who may experience challenges during this period.

These officials can be contacted through the departmental toll-free line on 0800-203-116 during office hours,” added Zwane.