Lack of access to water and toilets can have a significant impact on a child’s education.
Many youngsters leave school on a daily basis owing to diarrhoea as a result of a lack of hygiene teaching. When girls approach puberty, they frequently drop out of school due to humiliation and a lack of quiet spaces in which to maintain their dignity.
Separate restrooms for girls and boys are one of the most significant hurdles to females’ education in poor nations. When a girl hits puberty, having access to a separate restroom might make or break her decision to continue her school.
The combination of proper water and sanitation facilities, correct behavioural patterns and education is crucial for safeguarding children’s healthy health, learning, and general development.
WASH in schools has been widely acknowledged for its major contributions to attaining the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably those linked to providing primary education, reducing child mortality, improving water and sanitation, and promoting gender equality.
It not only prevents the transmission of communicable diseases when schools offer clean bathrooms for both boys and girls, access to clean water, and handwashing facilities, but it also encourages more children to attend school and study.
Separate bathrooms and menstrual hygiene management facilities can help girls stay in school and avoid dropping out, lowering the risk of early marriage and pregnancy.