Clean water and toilets will improve education

The Oxford Roundtable, from 24-26 January, is being hosted by UNICEF and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, with support from Oxfam, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council and the Governments of the United Kingdom and Netherlands. It brings governments and international agencies together to build an action plan to make all schools child-friendly places, where the right to health and education are protected. There is a strong focus on schools in Africa, Asia and Central America.

“Good health at school is as fundamental as textbooks to a child’s education,” said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. “Safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene education are critical to keep children healthy enough to learn and give them life-long skills to protect against disease.”

Action plans need to be set up to make governments realise that simply providing clean water and toilets in schools will boost attendance and therefore education. New facilities need to be paired with hygiene education programmes for children and teachers. This is the best way to ensure that toilets and water supplies are used properly so children can reap the maximum health benefits. And good hygiene education transforms children into health educators for their families, passing on vital information and skills which can reduce household vulnerability to deadly waterborne diseases.