We must keep our schools’ washrooms clean and safe
“ATUK, ada doa tahan kencing tak?”, (“Grandpa, is there a prayer to hold my urine?”).
This was asked by my 7-yearold grandchild when I picked him up from school.
While it is great to know that the Education Ministry is trying to overcome the problem of heavy bags, it must also look into the problem of dirty washrooms in schools. This is a common problem. Parents, not just the schools, have a role to play.
Schoolchildren are holding back their urine and their bowel movements due to unhygienic washrooms.
Children stop drinking or eating during school hours to avoid using the washroom.
It is an unhealthy practice which leads to dehydration and constipation. This agonising situation will have a damaging effect, especially on afternoon-session pupils.
In terms of concentration and the ability to understand the lessons being taught, it is important to ensure maximum absorption without being hindered by these symptoms.
Parents have to educate their children on how to use washrooms properly. Good hygiene practices begin at home. Parents must set a good example.
However, I have witnessed many parents setting a bad example in front of their children.
Some eat without first washing their hands, some pick their noses in public and later touch the food, sneeze and cough without covering their mouth with a handkerchief.
Some mothers would just place the milk bottle back into the baby’s mouth after it had fallen down and made a few rolls.
Are we unhygienic in nature? If yes, then transformation is the need of the hour. Parents must be particular about being clean and they must enforce discipline over their children on personal cleanliness and hygiene. This will prevent infections and diseases.
At school, the responsibility to provide a clean washroom with the basic essentials belongs to the school management. How can the management not notice how dirty the washrooms are when one can smell the foul stench when he walks by?
The management must ensure proper cleaning is done at least twice a day.
Another problem that some schools face is vandalism. To overcome this, the disciplinary system in schools should be therapeutic in nature.
Finally, the Parent-Teacher Associations must prioritise tackling this issue.
Clean clothes, clean minds and clean environment are conducive for education.