The importance of School Sanitation

A School is an important place for children. It’s a warm place where you can learn and where it doesn’t matter where you come from - you have an equal opportunity as your peers, to grow and improve yourself. Now, imagine not wanting to go to school, just because of the unhygienic state of the toilets there.

The reality is that millions of children worldwide miss school every day because of poor sanitation. A lack of safe sanitation at school as well as a lack of access to clean water can lead to water-borne diseases and other water-related illnesses, spreading. Over 443 million school days are lost each year because of water-related illnesses and children falling ill and having to miss school.

Sanitation in South African Schools

The reality of sanitation in South African schools is that in 2022, millions of children worldwide still have no access to sanitary ablutions at school. In South Africa, this means no access to flushing toilets, no access to clean water for washing hands or drinking, and the risk of death from the diseases that lurk in these unsanitary and unhygienic facilities.

Sanitation has also been found to be a key factor in either keeping girl children in school or as the reason why they miss school. Menstruating girl children often do not want to access unsanitary, insufficiently private, bathroom facilities during their menses, or do not even have access to effective sanitary products to be able to go to school during that time of the month.

What are the Positive Effects of Sanitation in Schools?

Sanitary bathrooms in schools have a positive effect on children’s physical and cognitive growth. If they have access to safe, hygienic bathrooms they will be less likely to miss school due to illness or embarrassment.

What is Sanitation and Why is it Important?

Sanitation is defined as the conditions relating to public health, especially clean drinking water, and adequate sewage disposal. Access to safe, clean sanitation means having access to clean water and a toilet or bathroom that is clean and safe.

LiquidGold Africa is running an initiative that will impact 14 000 children's lives in 40 schools in KZN and Eastern Cape. Through its approach of safe alternative sanitation with a circular lens by converting toilet resources to high-value byproducts. Interested in joining please contact [email protected] to find out more.