Dirty toilets give less relief to students

The national norm set in the National School Sanitation Manual which was prepared by a committee comprising CBSE Chairman, Vineet Joshi, is one toilet for 40 girls and a female teacher and one urinal for 20 girls. Though CBSE schools in the State are on a better pedestal on this, several are lacking in having clean toilets which forces students not to go there at all. Hardly 134 schools have secured different ratings of National School Sanitation Initiative (NSSI) which is sponsored by CBSE and Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The national norm also stipulates that schools must have one disabled-friendly unit in each toilet block. There should be one tap in each toilet and one hand wash tap per 20 students. The manual says there should be provision on the wall in every girl’s toilet to keep sanitary napkins and a minimum of two hand wash dispensers in every toilet block or soap per two wash taps. Schools should have water storage of 500 litres for 100 children.

The CBSE affiliation bye-law and accreditation manual do not specify the number of toilets each school should have, but the CBSE Chairman is keen on it. Principal of Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir, Elamakkara, Kochi, Jaya Jacob, said that the school has been maintaining adequate clean toilets over the years. “We first got blue rating and an award of '60,000 and later green rating with a cash component of Rs 1 lakh. Now another inspection by the CBSE is due on further rating,” she said. Jaya Jacob further added that her school has a total of 2300 students and there are 159 toilets at the school. “One ayah is in charge of each toilet to maintain it tidy,” she said.

The main complaint from students of CBSE schools in Ernakulum is that many schools don’t keep the toilets clean, with the result that students are forced to keep away from them. “The condition is so pitiable in some schools that students do not go to toilets and rush home at the end of the class to attend nature’s call,” said a parent.

Most of the CBSE schools in Kollam comply with the norms to have toilet facilities in proportion with the student strength. Many of them have improved the facilities including rearranging the timings of intervals with the advent of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The schools in the district have separate cabin-type toilet for girls and partitioned toilets for boys. However, some schools which have adequate number of toilet facilities run behind in the cleaning process.

Sister Lissie John, Principal of Carmel Central School, Valapad, in Thrissur, said the institution has provided sufficient number of toilets and urinals and they are cleaned regularly also. She also added that most of the schools she visited so far had good sanitation condition. It’s a divided situation in Kottayam. While generally boys use toilets, girls are reluctant to use to the toilets due to various reasons.

“I don’t think any of the schools have the toilets as per the norms of the CBSE,” said K C Varghese, academic coordinator of the Girideepam School, Kottayam, which forces the girls to keep away. According to Aneesh, a teacher with the Marian Senior Secondary School, Kalathipady, Kottayam, there is an inspection from the health department once in a while. Sr Cicily T S, Principal of AKM Public School, Changanacherry, said the school has applied for the CBSE accreditation and hence is careful in establishing toilets proportionate to number of students.

Across the State there are many small unrecognized schools operating classes from LKG to Class VII disguising themselves as CBSE schools, which do not have required number of toilets. Most of these unrecognized schools run their business by manipulating the rules of licensing of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Rajan Joseph, president, Alappuzha Sahodaya, said that they had not been facing any toilet- related complaints. “We have 53 members under the Sahodaya who strictly follow CBSE norms. Each school is instructed to clear up the toilets at least four times a day. Schools which experience water issues are advised to set up generators to ensure water in toilets,” he added.

Additional DP, I L Rajan, said in case of legally run CBSE institutions, State Government can interfere in case of lack of infrastructure. This has been clearly stated in the NOC issued by the State Government to CBSE schools. If any of the schools are found to lack facilities like toilets, during inspections the DPI office can interfere, Mr Rajan said.