WHY IS WASH A KEY COMPONENT IN ENSURING ACCESS TO EDUCATION?
Upon visiting M'buka Primary School in Area 36, Lilongwe, one of the initial surprises you will come across is the distinction between M’buka 1 and M’buka 2. The school's leadership structure is equally intriguing, featuring a principal head teacher, two head teachers (one for Mbuka 1 and another for M'buka 2), and two deputy head teachers. This arrangement stands out, especially considering that both schools utilize the same classrooms and all other facilities.
One might question why this arrangement is in place. M'buka Primary School boasts an enrollment of over 6,600 students and to ensure that all these students receive effective access to their right to education, the school has opted to divide its operations into two shifts: Mbuka 1 and Mbuka 2. Interestingly, this practice is not unique to M'buka; Chipala and Mlodza primary schools, with enrollments of 8,050 and 4,384 respectively, also operate with two shifts due to high enrollment.
WaterAid Malawi has undertaken initiatives in four prominent schools in Lilongwe, namely M’buka, Chipala, Mlodza, and Kabwabwa, all of which boast significant student enrollments. The primary goal is to improve Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions by introducing essential facilities such as water sources, toilets, and washrooms. This effort aims to establish a conducive and healthy learning environment for the students. Notably, Kabwabwa is the sole school operating on a single shift, while the others have adopted a dual-shift system to effectively manage the substantial student population.
According to Mbilire Mitawa, a teacher at Mbuka Primary School, before the implementation of this intervention, the school faced substantial congestion in the restroom facilities due to its high enrollment. The existing toilets were insufficient, and the introduction of the new facilities has significantly alleviated this challenge. She expressed her sincere gratitude to WaterAid for spearheading this initiative.
The provision of washrooms has also reduced absenteeism associated with menstruation. Lontina Kathumba, the Headteacher for M’buka 2 primary school painted a picture of the situation before the intervention and how things have now changed.
“Previously, girls were frequently absent from classes during their menstrual periods. They would return home to attend to their hygiene needs, often staying away from school for two or three days until their menstruation ended. However, with the recent changes, when girls begin menstruating, they now have the convenience of attending to their needs in the bathroom and promptly returning to class to resume their studies. Girls are no longer missing classes due to menstruation”.
Another interesting and crucial aspect brought by the washrooms is that it has broken barriers in terms of discussing menstrual health issues. “Prior to the installation of these washrooms, we overlooked the significance of discussing menstrual hygiene issues. The addition of dedicated girls' washrooms has provided an opportunity to engage with the girls on matters of menstrual health”.
“Now, the girls feel comfortable discussing menstrual health openly, even in the presence of boys which is a very crucial development. In the past, boys used to mock and ridicule girls during menstruation, leading to more girls choosing to stay home during their periods. Thanks to this project, such instances are no longer prevalent, marking a substantial positive change attributed to the project's implementation”, highlighted Mitawa.
According to WaterAid's Hygiene Behavior Change Specialist, Maria Soko, WaterAid decided to intervene in these schools after witnessing their exceptionally high enrollments coupled with the absence of water and inadequate sanitation facilities. Specifically, girls were facing challenges with absenteeism during menstruation. This prompted the intervention and support for these schools. The primary goals were to alleviate restroom congestion due to disproportionate ratios and to eradicate absenteeism among menstruating girls.
“During the cholera outbreak, we provided support to these schools by distributing water tokens to ensure proper handwashing among the students. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) serves as the first line of defense against diarrhea and other waterborne diseases. As WaterAid, we ensured that children were practicing good hygiene by washing their hands after using the toilet and before eating as one way of curbing the outbreak” shared Soko.
Idah Mlenga, the Deputy Headteacher at Kabwabwa Primary School also thanked WaterAid for this initiative. She said “before the installation of these water points, students were struggling to access water because we only had two water points, one tap and a borehole.
“Previously, students from classrooms located outside the fence had to come inside to access water. We are now grateful that designated water points have been provided for those classes, eliminating the need for students to come inside”, added Mlenga.
Enock Makwekwe, a teacher at Kabwabwa Primary School also shared his experiences. “The intervention by WaterAid has significantly reduced absenteeism resulting from illnesses caused by poor hygiene. Furthermore, WaterAid has provided training in the maintenance of these water facilities to teachers, the School Management Committee (SMC), and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). Children have a tendency to play with water, sometimes resulting in broken taps”.
However, regarding the challenges, all the schools expressed similar concerns. Vandalism has become a common issue, and as a cost-effective solution, some have opted for plastic taps that are both cheap to replace and less appealing to thieves due to their lower resale value. Mlodza has addressed this problem by incorporating heavy metals welded to the tap to deter theft.
Each school receives a monthly budget of about K30,000 to K34,000 Kwacha for water from the government, which is sufficient to cover water expenses for only five days. The persistent issue of under-funding limits their ability to hire an adequate number of guards to safeguard WASH facilities and employ sufficient cleaners to maintain the facilities. While schools generate some income by collecting money from students and renting out classrooms to churches during weekends, these funds are insufficient to meet all their needs, and some cannot afford.
The crucial role of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in school settings cannot be overstated. The access to education, overall well-being of students and the dignity of girls, directly hinges on the availability of clean water, proper sanitation facilities, and good hygiene practices. However, as we appreciate the transformative work undertaken, it is essential to recognize that similar challenges persist in numerous other schools. Therefore, there is a need to join hands in supporting schools facing these issues, ensuring that every child, regardless of location, has the opportunity to receive education in a healthy and safe environment.
