The Oyo State Sustainable Development Roadmap 2023-2027 outlines various projects aimed at improving different sectors, however, these plans are not well detailed. As part of its commitment to promote environmental sustainability, Oyo State Government promised continuous provision of potable water to communities and schools. While the roadmap highlights the proposed projects and interventions to tackle specific problems, it has no timeline and not as detailed as an education sector plan which would have provided comprehensive information on the aim, objectives, goals, implementation, targeted audience or specific schools after needs assessment has been done.
For an effective Education Sector Plan (ESP) to be designed, needs assessment would be checked out by identifying the problem, analyse the gaps, prioritize needs and implement solutions based on the available resources to achieve a set goal. However, due to the negligence of needs assessment and absence of education sector plans, imposed projects – projects initiated without understanding of the actual needs, were executed. This often results in projects which can be abandoned with time or have minimum impact on the community. Unfortunately, Community High School Ajibode is one of the many lesser-known schools suffering the consequences of inadequate needs assessment and the absence of Education Sector Plan in Oyo, State.
Toilets Come at a Cost
Community High School, Ajibode, located in Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA), comprises both junior and senior secondary school students. Until last year, the school had limited toilet facilities and relied on a single well. In order to improve sanitation, two blocks of six water closet toilets, facilitated with a borehole water supply, were constructed in the school. These projects, which were meant to serve as restrooms for both boys and girls of the school in order to relieve the stress of fetching water from wells, improve learning outcomes and create a conducive learning environment. However, rather than solving the problem, the new toilets have added distress to the students, especially girls.
Fukji Opeyemi, a senior secondary school 1 (SSS 1) student, recalled how the toilets were helpful before it became inaccessible due to the financial demands.
“In the past, we did enjoy the toilets but then we were made to pay a sum of N650, every term, for the purchase of diesel to pump water. When our parents complained about this payment, the school authority decided to lock the toilets leaving us with no toilets to relieve ourselves. Now, we ease ourselves in the bush or hold the urine till we get home, Opeyemi explained.”
In addition to the statement opeyemi gave, Azeezat, a SS 3 student said the students are required to bring four guarantors before they are being granted access to the toilets. In as much as this is to keep the toilet clean, she perceives that as a harsh policy that could disturb the learning activities of her and her friends (guarantors) so she opt for the bush to ease herself.
“The students were restricted with a policy of bringing 4 students who stand as guarantors when they want to use the restroom. Though there is electricity in the school, the students were made to pay N650 every term to pump water. Now that we failed to pay, the toilets are for the teachers alone. When there is an urgent need to use the toilet, we (students) resort to a nearby bush.”
Meanwhile, the toilets Azeezat mentioned the teachers used were the former (older) toilets of the school which are under lock and keys. The reporter confirmed that the restroom doors were locked and covered in dust, indicating they had not been in use for a long time.
Though Azeezat and her classmates fetch from another well, known to be clean, outside the school when the need for water arises because the well in school is uncovered, Kausar Safiu still fetches water from the uncovered well.
“We do have a pumping machine, but since we can’t use it, we fetch water from the uncovered well when our teachers need water. As for drinking, we buy sachet water. We used to have a bucket to reserve water in our class but the absence of windows and doors couldn’t secure the bucket for us and we found ourselves replacing it every time until we got tired.”
While some students use the bush to relieve themselves, others are scared of harmful or dangerous things that could be lying in the bush such as snakes, another set of students fear urinary tract infection popularly known as toilet disease.
“I don’t use the bush-I would rather hold my urine until I get home. Though I feel pain in my lower abdomen after holding it for too long. It is uncomfortable but at least, I avoid infection. Most of my friends are used to the habit of holding the urine,” Kausar said
Poor Sanitation Facilities put students at Risk
At Immanuel Grammar School 1, students struggle with inadequate toilet facilities, exposing them to health risks. The limited toilets cannot accommodate the students’ population, forcing the majority to result in unhygienic alternatives.
In a conversation with Bimpe ( not her real name), a student at Immanuel Grammar School, mentioned that two toilets were allocated to the whole secondary section ( J S 1 – S S 3) which has a population estimated to be over 400 students. Due to this shortage, she urinates behind a dilapidated infrastructure in the school or endures discomfort until she gets home.
“In the whole secondary section of Immanuel College, the school has just two toilets- one for the teachers and another one for the female students while the male are left with none. Our population is much and I think we are about 500 students. I am an Art student in SS2 and in Art class, we are 68 in numbers.”
She added that, “The toilet is bad and I seldom use it. Most times, I urinate behind a dilapidated building in the school or wait till I get home and during menstruation, I move into the bush to change my pad, then wrap the used one in a nylon. The situation is more challenging during menstruation.”
Oyewole Rachel, a junior student, said the school toilets used to be neat but have not been cleaned since resumption, as the cleaners have not resumed.
Despite government promises to improve sanitation facilities by providing public toilets and hygiene facilities in schools, and public places so as to promote good hygiene habits, the pace of the development is slow. This is evident in central public schools in local governments like Akinyele and Ibadan North, where poor sanitation persists.
Health Risks Associated with Poor Sanitation
The bad state of toilets does not only disrupt school activities, it also poses significant health risks to students, especially for the females. A major concern is urinary retention, a condition where students hold in their urine for extended periods due to lack of proper facilities. This can lead to urinary tract infections and other severe health issues.
Poor water sanitation and hygiene can bring about discomfort and pain to female students which can negatively affect students’ concentration and participation in class. In the long term, persistent exposure to unhygienic conditions may result in serious health complications, leading to increased absenteeism.
According to Research, it is harmful to the body when urine is held for a long time and can damage the organ if it becomes a habit. Delaying urination can cause pain or discomfort in the kidney or bladder and pelvic cramps may arise even after urination. Aside from the fact that Urinary tract infection (UTI) can be caused by transported bacteria produced in dirty toilets to the urethral area of the female body, delay in urination may also increase bacteria and lead to UTI. In the long term, it may cause bladder stretching and damage to the pelvic floor muscles.
Poor Sanitation and Water Scarcity at Community Primary School, Gbena
At Community Primary School, Gbena, located in Kajola, Lagelu Local Government Area, pupils endure poor sanitation due to inadequate toilet facilities. Although the school is segmented into two sections – school 1 and 2 – there are only three pit toilets for both. However, only one of the toilets was opened while the rest were locked.
Elizabeth Oguntade, a primary 6 pupil of school 1, revealed that the pupils have restored to open defecation due to the poor condition of the toilets.
“The toilet is littered with faeces and I don’t use it . Most times, I use the toilet before coming to school and I urinate in a nearby bush. We also do not have water in the toilet, even the bushes surrounding the toilet have been littered with faeces”, Elizabeth said.
Her experience was supported by Abdulafeez Olamide from school 2 who admitted that he used the toilet at home but he had used the bush to relieve himself on two occasions in the school.
“I urinate in the bush because the toilet is too dirty and has been abandoned.”
Apart from poor sanitation, the pupils also suffer from a lack of potable borehole water ( a benefit other schools enjoy) which subjects them to fetching from a well which is not always clean.
“We fetch water from the well to the blue drum in front of the Headmaster office. We rotate the fetching among the female primary 6 pupils and most times the water doesn’t last long. The entire school uses it for both drinking and washing of hands and because of the population of the school, the water is insufficient and at times we run out of water before breaktime,” Soliah Ahmed said.
Testifying to the unclean state of the water, Olaoluwa Nifemi said a chemical is being added to purify the water and make it safe for drinking.
“We always fetch water from the well situated in the school and the Headmaster adds a chemical to kill the germs in the water”, he said.
Mrs Adeagbo Adenike, the Headmaster of the school, said “There is provision of liquid soap and Dettol solution to be used after using the toilet, and chlorine is being added to the drinkable water. A tablet of chlorine is being dissolved in a 100 litre of water”.
She added that about six drums were donated by an NGO who paid a visit to the school but one of them is being used to prevent damage by the pupils.
Public Health Expert Reacts
Dr Adnan Sadeeq, a public health expert highlighted the serious health risks posed by poor sanitation. He warned that the combination of limited toilets, unclean toilets facilities and open defecation can cause an outbreak of disease ranging from diarrhea to infection.
“Poor conditions of the scarce toilet facilities predispose the students to infections and increased sick days while this may also predispose them to outbreaks like diarrhea. And thus most revert to open defecation which on its own is a hazardous behavior,” he stated.
Reacting to the dangers of delayed urination, he said; “Both genders are at high risk of urinary tract infection and reflux issues because of stasis of urine in the bladder- eventually it may develop into hydronephrosis and backflow,” she said while reacting to the implications caused when urination is delayed.”
He concluded that aside from the fact that no schools should be approved except there is provision of standard toilets, students should maximize the use of the toilets and keep them clean to prevent open defecation and any school found wanting by the environmental health workers should be sanctioned.
Efforts to get a response from the Oyo State Commissioner for Education proved abortive despite multiple attempts, he neither responded to his messages nor answered calls.