First Lady calls for more funding for WASH in schools

-------------

KAMPALA - The Minister of Education and Sports, also the First Lady, Janet Kataha Museveni has called for more funding to go towards water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools to ensure the safety of learners.

Mrs Museveni who was represented by the education state minister, Moricu Kaducu, at the WASH symposium in Kampala on Monday said the latest reports had indicated that several schools did not have enough sanitation facilities such as latrines.

“The most recent study on WASH in schools is the School Microplanning Handbook (2019). Overall access to water was 58% and 73% for primary and secondary schools respectively. About 42% of primary schools and 27% of secondary schools do not have access to safe water,” Mrs Museveni said.

She added that water is an indispensable input in prevention of disease transmission and “in the post-COVID-19 lockdown period, it is needed for all schools to be able to meet the Ministry of Health standard operating procedures.”

Kaducu delivers Mrs Museveni's speech during the symposium in Kampala on Tuesday.

The symposium, which was organized by the ministries of water, education, Uganda Parliamentary Forum on WASH, UNICEF, UNHCR, GIZ, Save the Children, Plan International, CIDI, Water 4 People, Water for Life, UWASNET, BRAC, AMREF, WaterAid, Peace and Evidence Action run under the theme, Re-imagining water, sanitation and hygiene services: leaving no children behind.

Mrs Museveni said reports indicated that pupil to stance ratio stood at 71:1 which was well below the recommended national standard of 40:1. 

“Further analysis based on gender showed girls' stance ratio as 68:1 while boys’ stance ratio was 72:1 in primary schools. In secondary schools, girls' stance ratio was 48:1 and for boys’ was 51:1,” Mrs Museveni said.

The worst-hit district, according to the First Lady was Buliisa, where the stance ratio stood at 648:1 for girls and 844:1 for boys.

Pupils of Nakivubo Blue Primary School make a presentation during the symposium in Kampala on Tuesday.

The minister further noted that only 56% of primary schools and 67% of secondary schools had handwashing facilities. 

She recommended rapid assessment of the status of WASH in schools to determine those which urgently need services so that existing data can be updated.

“I would like to strongly propose the Ministry of Education and Sports continued collaboration with partners to improve WASH in schools. The leadership of the ministry in terms of reaching out to those schools that are more vulnerable is needed and commitment from partners need to be sought at all levels,” she said.

Mrs Museveni said: “Government of Uganda, through Parliament and Ministry of Finance, planning and economic development should provide WASH in schools specific grants to districts to support schools improve WASH.”

She commended efforts by the ministries and partners to organize the symposium which was the first of its kind. 

Silas Aogon, the chairperson Uganda Parliamentary Forum on WASH, said for full coverage of WASH in schools, there is a need for sh600b.

“As legislators, we shall continue pushing for this money until it is allocated. It might not take one year, but we shall keep advocating for it,” Aogon said.