UNICEF. (2009). Equity in school water and sanitation : overcoming exclusion and discrimination in South Asia : a regional perspective. Kathmandu, Nepal, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA). xiii, 57 p.
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Download country studies: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India [not yet available], Nepal
This study examines issues of exclusion and discrimination in relation to water and sanitation in schools in South Asia and considers the potential for schools being able to act as agents of change in combating this exclusion and discrimination.
The study was carried out in four countries of the region – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. Each country has produced its own report, and these have been supplemented by this report, which summarizes the country reports and expands the findings into a regional perspective.
The overall objectives of the study were:
i. To examine the relationship between water and sanitation related issues and the ways in which they affect, for both practical and psychological reasons, both the inclusion and the opportunities of children who belong to groups that are perceived as being unclean, menstruating girls and children affected by communicable diseases.
ii. To identify and record instances of good and inclusive practice.
iii. To explore the possibility of good practice in schools having a transformative role in altering traditional discriminatory practices within the community.
In three of the four countries, twelve schools in three districts were chosen for in-depth study (in India, 24 were chosen).
In all countries, adolescent girls were seen to face considerable disadvantage when they were menstruating. The result was that a large proportion of girls simply did not attend school for several days each month. While the lack of sanitary facilities could not be directly linked with school drop-out, it seems certain that the embarrassment experienced by the girls, and their falling behind with their studies as a result of frequent absence, will increase its likelihood.
Findings on discrimination against children for issues related to water and sanitation were more mixed and varied both between countries and within individual countries. However, there certainly were indications that some children were treated less favourably than others.
A clear message which emerged was that one could not make simple assumptions as to precisely which groups of children were discriminated against. In all countries it appeared that children from very poor families were more likely to be ones who could face discrimination.
A positive message arising from the study was that both children and adults were aware that traditional discriminatory attitudes were changing.
There were, however, indications in all countries that new elites could sometimes arise in this new context and play themselves out in the same domain of cleanliness and uncleanliness.
All country studies have examples of excellent practice. Ways in which this practice has been created vary from country to country but common elements include:
- Sufficient and well maintained facilities
- Clearly worked out systems of cleaning
- A positive relationship between school and community so that good practice in one is reinforced by good practice in the other. There are many examples of children transferring good hygiene practice they have learnt at school to their families
- Children who are aware of the importance of good hygiene practices
- A strong ethos of inclusion in which all tasks and privileges are shared equally and children are automatically assumed to sit together and mix together regardless of social or economic divisions.
Thus, the study has showed the potential of school as an agency of change and indicates that this is an area which could definitely benefit from further attention.
