Children shun sub-standard school loos

School pupils are shunning school toilets which have become no go areas because they're either closed, dirty or unfit for purpose!

That's according to the British Cleaning Council, which is throwing its weight behind the Bog Standard campaign, which aims to promote better toilets for pupils.

"It's been brought to our attention that clean, safe, equipped and accessible toilets are becoming high on children's wish lists - but many UK schools are failing to provide this," says BCC Chairman Steve Wright.

"Children are just as entitled as adults to clean toilet facilities - poor hygiene in loos can lead to increased infections such as bacterial diarrhoea and Hepatitis A."

Not just are many school loos unclean, they are closed for long parts of the day, boys and girls are being forced to share facilities with a lack of privacy and many avoid them altogether as they are often a stamping ground for bullies. The result being that some children are developing continence problems from having to avoid an unpleasant experiences in school loos, despite the fact that many schools are encouraging the drinking of water.

The Bog Standard campaign has the backing of BCC members the British Toilet Association and the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service Providers. Both these associations have hands-on experience of toilet provision and the below par standards unfortunately found in many.

The campaign has introduced a school toilet charter and an award scheme to raise standards in school loos.

David Frogett of the ABCD says: "We have had school dinners revolutionised by Jamie Oliver, now it's about time the toilets were sorted out too. We propose that there's a minimum standard of two cleans a day in school loos as although many are closed, some can be open for up to 16 hours a day and one clean is insufficient to maintain healthy standards."

T: 0161 4068197
E: eibhlin.osomachain@encams.org
W: www.britishcleaningcouncil.org
W: www.bog-standard.org

31st January 2008