Educators focus on water sanitation, hygiene in schools

MANILA, Philippines – Education ministers from the Asia-Pacific region anew on Monday as the Department of Education (DepEd) hosts the seventh Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) in Schools International Learning Exchange (WinS ILE). 

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones stressed the importance of WASH to the health, wellness and basic dignity of school children. 

“Water, sanitation and hygiene services are needed for all children to thrive. However, in schools where children spend half their day, basic toilets, handwashing facilities and drinking water are not always available,” Briones said in a prepared message read by DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascual.

Education ministers and DepEd officials take part in the 7th Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) in Schools International Learning Exchange (WinS ILE). Photo courtesy of DepEd

“These simple services are not only necessary to keep children clean and healthy, but they are a question of basic dignity,” Briones’ message further said.

This event, DepEd said, serves as a platform to exchange experiences, best practices and even challenges to improve WASH in schools.

“We have the opportunity to showcase our progress which the department has done over the years in terms of WASH,” DepEd Region 6 Regional Director Ma. Gemma Ledesma said in a press briefing. 

“And we also have the chance to share with our challenges and to learn from the experiences of our counterparts in the different countries all over the world,” Ledesma added. 

DepEd will host the five-day WinS ILE from November 11 to 15 in pursuit of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) whichis aimed at “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

In light of this, education ministries of 19 countries, DepEd officials, non-government units (NGOs), among others, have committed to provide basic WASH services to all schools by 2030.

During the WinS ILE, participants will exchange strategies with their counterparts to improve WASH in schools by using large-scale but cost-effective program implementation.

Participants during the five-day program, will also visit public schools around Metro Manila to witness how the government’s WASH is implemented in schools. 

This year’s WinS ILE marks the second time the DepEd is hosting the event since 2012./gsg