KUCHING: In schools, toilet facilities can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how they are being managed.
This year, there have been many reports about vandalism in one of the most important school facilities in the country.
In conjunction with the World Toilet Day 2023 celebration, New Sarawak Tribune spoke with the Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Cooperative (KGBS) president Zulkiflee Sebli on some of the issues face by schools regarding public sanitation facilities.
Zulkiflee conceded that among issues that some schools are currently facing is the vandalism of toilets in school.
“There are many cases of damaging toilets such as scratching, breaking toilet doors and pipes, and other various acts of vandalism.
“Thus, it makes it harder for some schools to maintain the cleanliness of the toilet due to such reasons,” he said.
He stated that a dirty toilet will inevitably cause a bad odour, thus making it difficult for students to learn especially if their classrooms are near these facilities.
“They will feel very uncomfortable, and it would disrupt the learning process.
“Therefore, toilets that are clean, fragrant and always sanitised will influence students’ enthusiasm for learning,” he added.
He other than awareness campaigns to ensure restroom hygiene students must always be reminded to take care of the school toilet.
“Think of a toilet at school as a toilet at home. If the toilet at home is dirty, they will be scolded by their parents.
“So in their minds, the toilet at home must be clean. Otherwise the students’ parents will be angry with them.
“Make the toilet at school always clean just like how they do when it comes to their toilet at home,” he added.
Zulfiflee also explained how important it is for teachers to always spread awareness on toilet cleanliness.
“The teachers, or the management of the school should always ensure the toilet users are aware of the importance of keeping the toilet clean and sanitised.
“Thus responsibility should be shared among everyone in the school, and any damage caused to the toilet must be accounted for.
“Create a sense of awareness among everyone in school so that taking care of these toilets is embedded in them,” he explained.
He said World Toilet Day drives home the importance of a sense of responsibility towards a clean and conducive environment for learning.
“On a wider scope, toilets outside the school premises must also be kept clean for the comfort of users,” he said.
