Start off toilet cleaning with right approach

I REFER to the suggestion from the National Parent-Teacher Association that naughty students be assigned the task of cleaning toilets first.

The association seems to miss the most important point of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal, which is “to teach” and not “to punish”.

Students who clean toilets will learn to appreciate cleanliness and their parents’ hard work (especially lower-income parents). They would also have more respect for cleaners.

A more appropriate approach would be to make toilet-cleaning a “pleasant” task.

This can be done by organising events such as “Clean Toilet Day”, where students compete to clean and decorate their school toilets.

Inter-school, inter-district or nationwide competitions for the cleanest school toilet could also be organised.

Cleaning contractors can be roped in to provide the necessary assistance, and even to teach the students how to clean the toilet properly. Winning the competition would bring prestige to the school, and also boost the image of the cleaning contractor.

NORUDDIN HJ IDRIS

President

Malaysia Association of Cleaning Contractors