Hygiene Matters in School

Read how access to safe, clean water and the construction of improved toilet facilities is impacting children's education in Kenya.

Access to education contributes to personal success and growth of any society. Unfortunately, 250 million children worldwide still lack basic literacy skills, and more than 60 per cent of those are girls. This contributes to the escalation of poverty, as young people and adults classified as ‘low-literate’ and ‘low-skilled’ are excluded from participating fully in their communities. It denies many the opportunity to utilise their God-given potential and be all that they were created to be. Access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is essential for the success of any school learning. This contributes to improved school attendance and children’s concentration. With students and teachers able to focus on education without disruptions, educational performance is uplifted. The teachers are able to adequately cover the school curriculum, all leading to improved educational outcomes.

The Salvation Army in Kenya works together with school management, parents, local government structures and over 20,000 schoolchildren to improve the water and sanitation status for 62 schools in Kenya. This often involves promoting access to safe water, improving the school environment and promoting correct hygiene and sanitation practices among teachers and students. These contribute to reduction of incidences of waterborne and hygiene-related diseases among schoolchildren which could often disrupt school attendance. With better sanitation facilities, girls are supported to practise menstrual hygiene with privacy and dignity, improving their self-esteem, confidence and continued school attendance. With adequate sex-separated latrines, the teacher-pupil contact time is increased as the children do not have to waste time queuing for use of the latrines. In most of the schools that The Salvation Army has worked alongside, there has been a reported increase in school enrolment, attendance and performance.

Muumoni Primary School is one of the Salvation Army-sponsored schools in Kenya. It is located in Mwala Community, within Machakos County in the Eastern Province of Kenya. The Salvation Army in Kenya has journeyed alongside Mwala community to improve the access to water, sanitation and hygiene education within the school. During my visit, the school headteacher, Mr Mbaruku, explained some of the changes that the school has seen since the installation of the improved toilets in the school. He said, ‘Since the toilets were constructed, the hygiene in school has improved. The rates of school absenteeism have reduced drastically, and we have noted a remarkable improvement in school educational performance. The children are happier and able to concentrate on their school work.’

To improve access to safe, clean water within schools, rainwater harvesting systems have also been installed. The reservoir tanks collect rainwater which is used by the school for handwashing, meal preparation and for classroom cleaning. With adequate water within schools, the children can practise proper hygiene behaviour which they then replicate at home. Mr Mbaruku said, ‘All our water storage tanks are full, and this water will provide enough water for the children for drinking, hand washing and for their school meals preparation. We do not have to ask parents and children to bring water to school which has been burdensome to them in the past.’

Alongside the provision of facilities, health clubs are also established within schools. Children are taught proper hygiene practices such as hand washing with soap or ash, menstrual hygiene care, food safety measures, waste disposal, toilet cleaning, storage and handling of drinking water, and community sanitation. These training sessions are done using child-friendly approaches including the use of songs, poetry and drama to articulate their learning. All children are trained to be agents of change, influencing the hygiene practices of their parents, siblings and entire communities.

At Kyemwole School, the in-class performance of both boys and girls has improved as a result of the new WASH facilities. Further to this, young people have also had the opportunity to develop their leadership skills as they take on roles in the health clubs. As part of the clubs they advocate for improved health and hygiene in school and for COVID-19 prevention protocols to be strictly adhered to.

Another aspect of the WASH programme is soap-making classes. The soap is used for hand washing in the school as well as for keeping the bathrooms and latrines clean. At Kiongooni School, teachers report that, due to the education girls are receiving in the school on menstrual hygiene management, they no longer miss classes when they get their period and the stigma has reduced tremendously. They can talk about it without fear.

The benefits of the provision of clean water in schools are interconnected. Improvements to health and wellbeing ensure children are better able to make the most of educational opportunities, and the knowledge and practice spreads as students share their learning about proper hygiene management with their families and wider communities.

BY VIOLET RURIA