WASH facilities in primary schools (Bangladesh)

The study explores water and sanitation management and practice issues in primary schools of Sylhet City, Bangladesh. The issues and practices reflect and determine and shape children’s access to safe water and sanitation. The study reflects on the role of school stakeholders such as the school administration, and the central government. The study used qualitative approaches. It thus adapted techniques such as; in depth-interviews, document reviews and non-participant observations (for facility study). The research findings show that government commitment and willingness to embrace school-WASH services delivery is improving. The findings also show that there is increasing investment in latrines and a few in water facilities. The study revealed that about 60% of schools had shallow tube well as a source for their drinking water supply and sanitation.

About 40% of schools had no sanitation facility or inactive sanitation unit. Separate toilet facility for girls and teachers was found in about 30% and 90% of schools respectively. The availability of water, soap and hand washing facility inside girls’ and boys’ latrines is not satisfactory but in teachers’ toilet, it was satisfactory. 40% of the schools have active drainage systems at water points, whereas 30% of schools have baskets in all classes for dumping solid wastes. In this regard, the proper management and monitoring of existing facilities are required to improve the present water supply and sanitation situation in primary schools of the selected wards of Sylhet City.