By Johannah Malogadihlare
Pit toilets at schools will be eradicated by the end of March next year, according to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube.
While the department has made progress in eliminating pit toilets, there are still 259 across the country. Most of them are in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
Multiple cases of children drowning in pit latrines have been reported over the years. Responding to a question in Parliament on Wednesday, the minister said: “I will be the first to admit that it is simply not good enough and we cannot still have children who are drowning in pit toilets in 2024, 30 years into our democracy. So, this is why this matter is priority for me and the department.”
She further said: “We know that the existence of pit toilets in our schools is not only a danger to our learners, but also is an issue of dignity.”
When the government introduced the Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative in 2108, there were around 4000 pit toilets.
In July this year, the Public Servants Association (PSA) said improving school infrastructure need to be a priority.
“Developing school infrastructure and eliminating pit toilets are urgent concerns that pose serious risks to learners, educators and school support staff. Investing in school infrastructure will lead to improved national examination results, enhance productivity, and provide adequate safety for all concerned,” it said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
