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Hygiene in Dar primary schools appalling -survey
2006-09-02 09:48:40
By Ludger Kasumuni
Disproportional ratio of toilets to the number of pupils in Dar es Salaam has raised concern over the hygiene level and safety in schools in the city.
Data obtained at the Kinondoni District Education Office yesterday confirmed the appalling state of hygiene in over 60 per cent of Dar schools.
An on-the-spot check conducted this week showed that almost 95 per cent of primary schools lacked the facilities and fall far short of meeting the recommended ratio of one pit latrine to 25 pupils (1:25).
At Kimara Baruti Primary School, on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, the problem is acute.
The institution has been without pit latrines for several months, leading to the temporary closure of the school with a population of 2,000 pupils.
The headteacher of Ndugumbi Primary School in Kinondoni District said,eight pit latrines (under one roof) in the school are shared by 1,876 pupils.
Schoolteachers said pupils are inconvenienced under such circumstances as they are forced to go to neighbouring residential buildings, in search for toilets.
Some pupils use toilets owned by religious institutions, while others dash to restaurants and bars.
Pupils complained of time wastage as class hours had been reduced to three, from seven to allow them time to move out in search of toilet facilities.
Commenting on the discrepancy, Public Relations Officer of Kinondoni Municipal Council Iddi Chaurembo said the district has only 1,323 functioning pit latrines out of 6,826.
He said Kinondoni district has a population of 157,631 pupils, but plans were underway to construct 5,503 pit latrines for them.
Chaurembo said the government,under Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP) had set aside funds for the construction of latrines in schools.
He said some 40m/- out of 85m/- PEDP funds had been made available from the government and the remaining sum would be raised by the Municipal Council.
Chaurembo said Plan International, an NGO supporting the education sector, had pledged support for the construction of toilets in primary schools located on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. The officer said the exercise would cost 1.85m/-.
”Head teachers have been directed to mobilise local residents towards contribution to such community projects,” Chaurembo said.
He said under the initiative by Local Governments, Capital Development Fund would also provide financial support to the project.
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