March 22, 2021
By: John Abass Koroma (Port Loko)
An on-the-spot check team comprising representatives from Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), Membbers of Parliament, Civil Society and the media, found out that administrations of various schools in Port Loko district do budget, maintain and refubish offices and classrooms but take water, sanitation and hygine within their school premises for granted.
The on-the-spot check was done unannounced on Monday, March 15, 2021 on randomly selected schools in Kafubulum, Lokomasama, Koya and Port Loko township.
The on-the-spot check is inspired by a report published by Audit Service Sierra Leone (Performance Audit Report 2018) on the management of schools faclities. The report says among other figures, that 29% of the 17% of schools sampled (representing 6 out of 35 schools visited) did not have water supply facilities. The scenario could expose, according to the report, 13,394 pupils to diseases related to poor sanitation and hygiene.
The report further states: 21% (2,218) of schools in Sierra Leone do not have toilets facilities exposing approximately 416,00 pupils to disease related to poor sanitation and hygiene. Of the 79% (8,529) of the schools that have toilets facilities, 20% of their toilet are not in good condition further exposing approximately 454,189 pupils to disease caused by poor WASH facilities.
The report adds: there are insurficient drop holes in schools, noting that none of the 35 schools visited had the required ratio of drop holes per either boys or girls, while the standard required is one drop hole per 45 pupils, the average ratio is for the 35 sampled schools visited in the provinces was 1 drop hole per 144 pupils.the Western Area Urban District, the report says, had the worst drop hole ratio per pupil of 248 per hole.
These issues among other WASH related ones in the Audit Service report, stimulated the on-the-spot check on schools in Port Loko district as a fact finding mission coordinated by BAN. Two teams were established (Team A and Team B). A-Z Reporter has to join Team A that travels from Kissy Ferry Terminal axis through kafu bulum, Lokomasama, Kamasondo and Port Loko City wher a presentation of findings was made to authorities of the Port Loko District Council among other education stakeholders in the district.
School hygiene and sanitation are especially important because children spend a greater deal of time at school and they need a healthy environment to learn and grow, physically, mentally and socially. Investing in WASH in schools has a long term benefits, as it is proven that children are far more receptive to new ideas and have the ability to develop good habits in their formative years. These students become powerful agents of change, reinforcing what they learnt regarding good hygiene and sanitation at their home with their families.
With this background, this reporter can honestly report from the various schools visited that school authorities in Port Loko district spend more resources to rehabilitate and maintain other school facilities as oposed to WASH (especially) toilets facilities. Schools visited include, two secondary and a primary school in Lungi; one secondary and a primary school in Patifu Loko Masama.
It was observed generally that school administration do not budget either enough or fail to implement budgeted funds to improve on sanitation in their respective schools. There are limited if any, cleaners in the schools visited and their mandate are not clearly defined if they are responsible to clean the toilets. The availability of water in the restrooms is generally the biggest challege in all the schools. In the presence of the team, a girl was seen going to attend nature with a satchet of water in her hands. There iare several droplets of feaces around drop hole but more visible in one of the most decorated schools in the district based in Lokomasama chiefdom. The school head explained that they are facing serious challenge with community activities in the toilets facilities especially when schools are off.
Interestinly, all the school Principals were asked one simple question by the team as to how they feel seeing the condition of such toilets and if they could allow their children to access such in their home. “I honestly feel embarassed today and never wished such to have happened here in my school”, one of the principal stated in his response.
Again, some school dumping sites are found very close to market places were school children buy their foods. These and many other related health harzards souround school children in both primary and secondary schools in Port Loko and Sierra Leone at large. School heads largely depend on donor driven support for the construction of drop holes and those who have been given such support are struggling to maintain these facilities. Such an example was observed at the D E C primary School in Lungi which has one of the best modern days toilets but close it from school chieldren for the mere fact of up-keeping.
Hon Abdul Titus Kamara of constituency 061 and Deputy Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, a team member in the monitoring exercise noted that the scenario and events observed are deadly and cannot be over enphasized. He said the education ministry and school authorities need to change the narative or else the PAC will soon be invititing personalities to explian on how they are utilizing funds received by school managements.
Speaking to the coordinating organization BAN, Mr. Abduraman Sesay says the initiative was incorporated by Budget Advocacy Network due to the alrming trend of insecured health related issues in schools in Sierra Leone. He said their effort is to stimulate action from various education stakeholders across the district as well as Members of Parliament who are the main oversight body for Ministries, Department and Agencies in the country. He noted that the exercise is to climax an engagement with the two local councils in the district were presentations of real-time findings will be tabled, projected and discussed for action.