FILTHY, wet and stinky toilets are a perennial problem – not only in public areas, but also in schools where our children spend most of their time.
Faulty taps, broken toilet bowls and flush handles, doors that cannot be locked, cracked mirrors and leaky pipes are just some of the problems students have had to put up with.
While some toilets are spotless and beautifully decorated, earning praises from netizens when the photos go viral, stories are aplenty of students refusing to go near them unless absolutely desperate.
The lack of funds sometimes means that parents and teachers have to get creative in order to provide clean and comfortable toilets for students.
In 2016, the parent-teacher association of a school in George Town, Penang, decided to impose a 20 sen fee for the use of two of its toilets, which had had a facelift to improve its conditions.
The money collected was used for the maintenance and upkeep of the toilets in an effort to better these facilities.
In May this year, it was reported that the sudden exodus of cleaners for better-paying jobs had led to dirty toilets in schools nationwide, forcing teachers and students to assume responsibility for the cleanliness of toilets and corridors.
The situation was so bad, Sin Chew Daily reported, that many students said they would rather not pee until they reached home.
Confirming that he had received reports about this from state education departments and district education offices on the matter, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon explained that the cleaning contractors had reneged on their contracts and did not send cleaners as often as promised.
Calling on schools affected to report the matter to their district education offices, he said data was being collected on the school size and number of students to reassess the number of cleaners needed.
Recently, Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said better building designs - including improved air ventilation in toilets and classrooms would be adopted to ensure that infrastructure and facilities were comfortable for students and teachers.
He said the ministry would review the design and construction of school toilets to prevent the facilities from smelling bad and to ensure their cleanliness.
Parents and teachers had highlighted the poor conditions of toilets in schools which are caused by poor ventilation, he said on Sept 12.
Our toilets are always wet and students fear that they might get their clothes dirty, he said, adding that some students even skip breakfast because they don’t want to use the toilets in school.
Radzi’s announcement came as the United Nations prepares to mark World Toilet Day on Nov 19 – a global event that aims to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve sanitation for all by 2030.
While many Malaysian schools – particularly in urban areas – are equipped with toilets, dirty and non-functioning ones remain a problem.
In Budget 2023, which was tabled on Oct 7, RM1.2bil had been allocated to upgrade dilapidated school buildings and infrastructure, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
Radzi had said that the allocation for the restoration and maintenance of buildings would allow the ministry to create a more conducive learning environment for students and teachers.
With Parliament dissolved, the budget will have to be retabled after the upcoming General Election. Hopefully, the allocation is maintained – if not increased – and greater attention is given to providing students with the most basic of necessities – clean, functional toilets in every school.
