KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today raised the issue of dirty school toilets, which he described as a never-ending problem.
He said he was aware of the conditions of school toilets, which were mostly damaged and dirty.
Anwar said they remained neglected as if those responsible had left them like that so students do not go to the toilets during school hours.
“I have instructed the education minister to check on the many school toilets that have been left damaged for decades as if nobody cares.
“Now I say: how do we send our children to school when there are no toilets?” he asked when officiating the D’Anjung Selera Madani food court at Bandar Tun Razak near here today.
Recalling the time when he was the education minister from 1986 to 1991, Anwar said toilet cleanliness was one of the aspects he prioritised, including instructing schools to get students to take turns cleaning their school toilets.
Anwar said the move back then had resulted in well-to-do parents sending him telegrams questioning his action, because they said they sent their children to school to learn and not to clean toilets.
The prime minister said students need to be educated on aspects of hygiene, including being trained to clean toilets as one of the aspects of learning that needs to be implemented regardless of their parents’ position.
“If our children are trained to clean toilets, they will know how their parents keep their home toilets clean. They will also appreciate street and public toilet cleaners and that there is value in all work done,” he said. – Bernama, June 3, 2023
