Better Hygiene at Islamabad Colleges Still a Challenge

Qaiser uz Zaman

Islamabad: Despite a number of initiatives to ensure a healthy environment in the Capital Territory educational institutions, better hygiene still remains a challenge, exposing students to different kinds of ailments.

Although, the Oral Hygiene Program, the provision of hygiene kits, and steps like ensuring cleanliness of premises and toilettes, clean drinking water, and an overall tidy environment were already underway, there are still challenges like a paucity of funds and staff.

Since a clean and hygienic school environment stands as a fundamental pillar for safeguarding the health and well-being of students and staff, it also serves as a powerful catalyst for nurturing a profound sense of pride and responsibility among them.

Drawing inspiration from the timeless wisdom found in the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who imparted, “Cleanliness is half of faith,” the school management can also derive a valuable lesson for the students.

Therefore, the schools are not only expected to impart better education but also better hygiene to fulfil the requirements of better health as well as a clean and healthy environment.

Given the size of our educational institutions, it is often a challenging task for custodial staff to manage cleaning and maintenance tasks alone, said Riffat Jabeen, Director of Academics, Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

She remarked that it is common for students to litter the premises by throwing waste here and there, even in the presence of a waste bin. Therefore, teachers emphasise the importance of cleanliness and hygiene during their lectures.

She said the head teachers ensure cleaning supplies like disinfectants, toilet brushes, mops, and cleaning clothes.

As per the FDE guidelines on hygiene, students are kept away from hazardous chemicals, and students and staff are instructed on the proper use of toilets, including cleaning sinks and countertop surfaces and toilet floors after use.

Heads of institutions are specifically directed to encourage students to actively participate in ensuring a clean and healthy environment without compromising routine academic activities, Riffat Jabeen informed.

Keeping in view the importance of hygiene facilities, the Federal Government has started the Oral Hygiene Programme at 423 public sector schools and colleges under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

Under this programme, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training stributes hygiene kits amamong students of government educational institutions within the ICT jurisdiction.

Under the Hygiene Kits programme started in April 2023, as many as 100,000 kits have been distributed among students, Riffat Jabeen said. Doctors are also engaged to guide students on health and hygiene issues.

But, despite her claims, there are complaints of missing facilities, especially at female schools, as poor cleanliness and substandard food supplied by canteens inside the institutions and private vendors outside are proving to be hazardous for students’ health.

In many cases, there is also a deficiency of bathrooms as compared to the number of students, with many needing immediate repair and upgrade, as Director Monitoring FDE Malik Sohail assured to bridge this gap and claimed these facilities would be provided sooner.

Hygiene conditions are far better now than in the past, especially at institutions where the principal and staff are active, he said.

Contrary to his claims, the President of the Federal Government Teachers Association, Malik Ameer Ahmed Khan, has pointed out the shortage of sanitary staff at a number of institutions.

There is a shortage of staff at some schools, and a requisition has been forwarded for more sweepers and sanitary workers, he informed. We are fully alive for the better health of our children, and the association has formed a committee to identify missing facilities at government schools and ensure their earliest provision.

There are also scattered reports of unhygienic food being sold at some of the institutions, although the authorities claim to have checked the stuff being sold out at these outlets.

Similarly, in numerous cases, either the washrooms were worn out with broken tiles and flour or the lethargic response of sanitary staff left these washrooms dirty and stuffy.

Keeping the playgrounds and flower beds tidy with frequent trimming is another issue, especially in institutions in remote areas of ICT, as the focus remains on the main institutions situated in the heart of the city.

As most of the buildings are properly cared for, there are instances of old and worn-out furniture, soggy walls with falling whitewash, and dirty floors, making the environment stinky.

Caretaker Education Minister Madad Ali Sindhi, in his recent visit to educational institutions, directed FDE to provide a detailed proposal for the maintenance of facilities. The government would provide the necessary funding for the upgrade of the facilities.

He also directed the FDE to regularly conduct an audit of food quality and cancel the contracts of those involved in selling unhygienic food.

Although the government has initiated multiple measures to promote better hygiene at educational institutions, there are still challenges like inadequate attention to hygiene concepts in the curricula, an unconducive environment, and a communication gap between teachers and parents.

Therefore, the authorities must adopt a holistic approach by involving all stakeholders to promote hygiene, revise the curriculum, and raise awareness among teachers, parents, and students.