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Tackling the toilet problem

Tan Ee Loo | The Star/Asia News Network | Wed Aug 18 2010

Although there is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to solve the problem of dirty toilets in schools, instilling good hygiene habits and cooperation from all sides can go a long way.

GONE are the days where Muhammad Aiman Hakimi Yusyairi had to put on a mask to keep away the unbearable stench of urine and faeces, which was enough to make him throw up whenever he entered the school toilet.

Such impressions have been totally flushed out of his mind and he will leave his primary school later this year with memories of a clean and dry toilet that have, in fact, become the talk of his peers in neighbouring schools.

"I no longer have to hold my breath when I enter the toilet nor do I control it (my bladder) until I reach home, because the school toilets are so much cleaner now," he says.

The authorities at the school he attends, SK Bandar Baru Sentul, decided that they had had enough of filthy toilets and embarked on a clean toilet programme to educate its pupils on basic hygiene and toilet etiquette two years ago.

"It was a crash course and teachers-in-charge went to every class and instilled in every pupil the need to be clean and hygienic," says the school headmaster Abd Aziz Yahya.

"We also had to inculcate in them the need to respect school property, as pupils are indifferent and adapt a tidak apa (don't care) attitude - especially of other people's belongings."

Taking shoes off and changing into slippers provided by the school before entering a toilet may sound tedious to some, but is no big deal to the pupils.

"After implementing the clean toilet programme, we were surprised that the campaign also helped us save up to RM100 in monthly water bills," says Abd Aziz.

"The floors are always clean and dry because there are no more muddy footprints. As a result, the cleaner uses less water and spends a shorter time cleaning the washroom," he adds.

The school also provides shoe racks near the toilet entrance where the children are expected to arrange the slippers neatly after using them.

Anticipating that students might complain about not having a place for them to put their shoes back on, the school has secured some sponsorships to build a platform where students could sit.