Lifting the lid off dirty loos
Our schools seem to have the filthiest toilets and something needs to be done quickly to change the mindset of those who use it.
THE stench was unbearable and he was about to throw up, but there was no choice, Wai Sen* plugged his nose and quickly made his way through the slippery floor to answer nature’s call.
The sharp stench of urine and faeces was enough to force the primary school boy to hurry things up.
“I always try to get my ‘business’ done as fast as I can because it is just too stinky in the toilet,” says the 10-year-old boy.
For eight-year-old Gloria*, any thought of lingering in the school toilet longer than necessary is revolting.
“There are only two basins in the washroom and one is clogged because somebody vomitted in it recently, so we cannot even wash our hands,” she laments.
As if that isn’t bad enough, Gloria even found an empty fast food container in the toilet bowl. One just has to bring up the subject of dirty school toilets and chances are adults and children alike would have lots to say about them.
Graffiti on the walls and mirrors is a common sight in school toilets.
School toilets are where students can relieve themselves without having to wade through pockets of water or taking in the smells of urine, faeces and even vomit.
The cleanliness of toilets, in fact, is also a reflection of the school community, which many people overlook.
Some cubicles have no doors while others have faulty ones. The sinks and counter tops could do with a good scrub.
The current education system is so focused on our students achieving A’s, that it tends to overlook other basic issues that are just as important like personal hygiene and toilet etiquette.
by Tan Ee Loo.
Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/7/18/education/6673649&sec=education
