TENOM: Despite being far inland, the students and staff of the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Simpang, near Ulu Tomani, have been enjoying cleaner, more comfortable, and brighter toilet facilities, similar to those in towns.
Established in 2000, the primary school is about 212 km from Kota Kinabalu in Tenom, a district known as the best coffee producer in Sabah.
The school's toilets, which were upgraded in November last year under the initiative of the Education Ministry, brought joy to the students, who had long been waiting for such a comfortable facility.
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Morvinly Marius, a Year Six student at the school, said that he was grateful because he and his friends could finally use the school's toilets, which are safer and work well.
"The school toilets now are much different than before. In the past, if we went to the toilet, especially when it was raining, our clothes would get wet because there was no covered passage and the floor was slippery. But not anymore," he told Bernama.
Also sharing the excitement is 12-year-old Evalissa Spencer, who wants her friends at the school to use the new toilets neatly and to keep them clean so that they always smell good and don't get damaged quickly.
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The school's headmaster, Dr Samuing Andawai, said he did not expect his school to receive complete toilet facilities under the Education Ministry initiative.
"This is the first time the students here can enjoy the toilet facilities as they are now. Even though they are in the interior, they can use the school's toilet, which is better and more comfortable," said Samuing, who has been with the school for eight years.
For teacher Datu Abdul Wahid Datu Kamaruddin, 34, the project to upgrade toilets in each school can indirectly increase students' awareness of ethics and the value of cleanliness because toilet cleanliness is an important element that must be inculcated in students.
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Datu Abdul Wahid, from Kunak, also believes that primary schools, in particular, are the best place to educate the younger generation about the sense of responsibility to appreciate the public facilities provided, thus curbing the culture of vandalism.
Norazrina Abdul Razak, 39, who teaches English at the school, said that early education is critical in instilling the spirit and attitude of prioritising cleanliness, not only to guarantee one's own health but also the beauty of the environment.
She said that even though it was only an improvement to the school's toilet, it clearly impacted the students, including in terms of comfort during the teaching and learning sessions since the facility was located near the classroom.
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"The toilets are cleaned daily; if they are clean, the students will feel happy using them. The teachers also always remind students to keep the toilets clean, including at home and public toilets," said Norazrina, from Negeri Sembilan, who has been teaching at the school for the past 10 years.
The school's Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) president, Ruzer Palau, said toilet cleanliness is very important because it reflects the community. Still, they also hope that other infrastructure, such as building the school's fence, will be given attention in future development planning.
Meanwhile, Tenom District Education Office assistant officer Norhayati Abdul Wahab said that the toilet repair works in all 25 schools under the maintenance and operation of the office had been completed according to the set schedule. – Bernama
