KWANIA-Ikwera Negri School for the Disabled in Aduku town council, Kwania district has received a 10-stanch modern toilet facility; five years after the school had been operating without a better toilet facility, thanks to the German Agency for International Cooperation [GIZ].
GIZ in collaboration with Kwania District Local Government organised a contest in which five out of the 57 government-aided primary schools in Kwania were selected to come up with proposals and solutions on how they can manage sanitation in schools.
GIZ supported the initiative dubbed ‘Toilets making grades’ and five schools including Ikwera Negri School for the Disabled were selected and consequently awarded to promote better hygiene practices and act as model schools in Kwania district.
The modern toilet facility valued at Shs 300 million was handed over to the school on Sunday.
John Bosco Oryema, the technical advisor at GIZ says that the company has donated modern toilet facilities to different schools and hospitals in the areas of Aduku town council in Kwania and Ibuje town council in Apac district.
“We donated toilets of this kind to a number of institutions in Aduku town council, Apac Municipal, and Ibuje town council in Apac to improve sanitation and hygiene in schools and hospitals. I am appealing to the beneficiaries to make the best use of these facilities, “he said.
Jennet Lydia Ajwang, the head teacher of the school thanked GIZ for the donation, saying it has come at the right time. She said the donation will not only improve the school’s sanitation but also will reduce cases of school dropouts.
“Right now we have 588 learners from P.1 to P.7 but we previously had 709. Most of them have left school due to a number of challenges including the lack of better latrine facilities. This toilet is modern and suitable for the disabled learners. This will improve on sanitation and reduce school dropouts,” she said.
Samfan Omara, the chairperson Parents and Teachers’ Association of the school said the learners had been relying on only four latrine stanches for both the male and female learners, which was inconveniencing.
Kwania district acting education officer,Bunga Samuel hailed GIZ for supporting Kwania schools. Bunga said the development would go a long way to complement government efforts and enhance better hygiene to improve performance in the district.
“As the district, we are incapacitated by the grant we receive from the central government. You played your role in filling up the gaps that the government was not able to do and we appreciate you because you are providing facilities that will enhance better hygiene management, “he said while receiving the toilet facility on behalf of the school.
Nine in ten children in Uganda face issues with the state of toilets in schools, causing anxiety, with some dropping out of school, according to the School Toilet Report done by Domestos, London-based researchers in collaboration with Unicef.
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