Access to water and sanitation facilities in primary schools: A neglected educational crisis in Ngamiland district in Botswana

Publication date: June 2018Source: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, Volume 105Author(s): B.N. Ngwenya, O.T. Thakadu, N.A. Phaladze, B. BolaaneAbstractIn developing countries, the sanitation and hygiene provision often receives limited resources compared to the water supply. However, water supply benefits tend to diminish if improved sanitation and hygiene are neglected. This paper presents findings of a situational analysis of water supply, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure and their utilization in three primary schools in north-western Botswana. The overall objective of the paper is to determine access and functionality of water supply, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in three primary schools. The specific objectives are: a) Learners' perspective of their water and sanitation facilities and b) gendered utilization of sanitation and hygiene facilities. Data were collected through a face-to-face administered social survey tool to 286 learners selected through proportionate stratified random sampling from three purposively selected villages in the middle and lower Okavango Delta. Findings indicate that standpipes provide 96% of potable water supply. However, the majority (65% of leaners) indicated that they ‘sometimes’ experienced water shortage due to dry/nonfunctioning taps/pumps and leaks/wastage. Overall, schools have relatively sufficient sanitation facilities consisting of both water borne toilets and VIP latrines. The major sanitation gap id...
Source: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts ABC - Category: Science Source Type: research