Keep public school toilets clean
YSMPublished: Oct 5, 2006 7:22 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
There was a special report by ABC in May about the state of public toilets in Malaysia which have long disgusted residents and tourists with their lack of basic items such as toilet paper, soap and sometimes even toilet seats. Many fall prey to vandals.
According to the report, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Robert Lau said, "The vision is to establish a clean toilet culture... The mission is to raise users' etiquette and to motivate the change in the psychological ethics and attitudes of users and owners." Shopping malls and other commercial establishments that do not have clean toilets may not have their business licences renewed, he said, adding the government was also considering imposing fines for vendors with dirty washrooms.
How can we have a clean toilet culture when our schools simply do not have clean toilets. Go to any public school in the Klang Valley and inspect the toilets, one would have no problems finding the toilets. Just follow the stench which comes out from it.
I visited my son during the recess period. He sat at a bench about 20 feet from the toilet and I already was gasping for air. He and his friends were quite used to it. The Parents and Teachers Association of the schools must be tasked with finding ways of keeping public school toilets clean.
When these children have good toilet habits, it would be natural that they would carry this through to adulthood. Right now, our children are exposed to poor toilet use and hygiene and when they become working adults, they will expect dirty toilets as well. We will never break away from this cycle.
It is imperative that the Education Ministry insist that schools have clean toilets. High usage toilets such as those in schools must have constant running water on urinals especially during peak hours. The toilets should be jet-hosted down at least twice a day.
According to the report, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Robert Lau said, "The vision is to establish a clean toilet culture... The mission is to raise users' etiquette and to motivate the change in the psychological ethics and attitudes of users and owners." Shopping malls and other commercial establishments that do not have clean toilets may not have their business licences renewed, he said, adding the government was also considering imposing fines for vendors with dirty washrooms.
How can we have a clean toilet culture when our schools simply do not have clean toilets. Go to any public school in the Klang Valley and inspect the toilets, one would have no problems finding the toilets. Just follow the stench which comes out from it.
I visited my son during the recess period. He sat at a bench about 20 feet from the toilet and I already was gasping for air. He and his friends were quite used to it. The Parents and Teachers Association of the schools must be tasked with finding ways of keeping public school toilets clean.
When these children have good toilet habits, it would be natural that they would carry this through to adulthood. Right now, our children are exposed to poor toilet use and hygiene and when they become working adults, they will expect dirty toilets as well. We will never break away from this cycle.
It is imperative that the Education Ministry insist that schools have clean toilets. High usage toilets such as those in schools must have constant running water on urinals especially during peak hours. The toilets should be jet-hosted down at least twice a day.
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