Sanitation problems in school toilets to be fully addressed: Prime Minister

Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha reported the high school exit exam, new textbooks and sanitation in schools that the public have raised concern over recently at the conference between the central government and local authorities yesterday.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered his speech at the conference between the central government and local authorities. Photo by VPG
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered his speech at the conference between the central government and local authorities. Photo by VPG

After a brief description, Minister Nha confirmed that the national high school examination this year was successfully organized. Due to the incident of flooding, 13 students in the Northwest area were prevented from participating in the exam. As a result, they are allowed to exceptionally graduate.

The Minister suggested local authorities to pay more attention on preparing facilities and human resources for the implementation of the upcoming new textbooks.

Regarding the sanitation of school toilets, which attract much attention of the Prime Minister, Mr. Nha said that at the moment, many are deteriorating. What is more, 95 to 97 percent of schools and kindergartens in the nation have toilets, yet only 40 percent of them can meet the sanitation standards.

After listening to the report of Minister Phung Xuan Nha, the Prime Minister asked that the Educational and Health Ministers take responsibility for school and hospital toilets, respectively. He requested that related agencies improve the sanitation status of those toilets so that it will not scare students or citizens.

He purposely insisted that the problems in school toilets be fully addressed in this summer via competitive campaigns and the mobilization of all existing resources. All must be done to prevent the fact that students dare not drink water for fear of using dirty toilets.

Sanitation status has attracted the PM’s attention for a long time, and he already mentioned this in the regular governmental meetings in March and April. He commanded that related bodies ensure school infrastructure and facilities meet the standards and improve the filthy state of school toilets.

It is a sad fact that students in public schools have been so obsessed over dirty and smelly toilets that they dare not use those facilities. It is high time the authorities have proper actions to amend this.

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