Secondary schools don't have enough toilets for their pupils
Secondary schools don’t have enough toilets for their students, according to the MDL Fonds, the Gastroenterology Foundation. The organization has calculated that secondary schools have an average of one toilet for every 30 students. That should be twice as many.
According to the MDL Fonds, the toilets in secondary schools are not only too few, but also inadequate. Most schools have stalls that don’t close properly, allowing “odors and noise to circulate,” and the toilets are often not cleaned properly.
As a result, students are reluctant to use the toilet at school, so they hold it until they get home. That could cause health issues like stomach pain and constipation. Figures from the Foundation for Pharmaceutical Key Figures show that some 50,000 school-aged children used laxatives last year.
“It is unacceptable that a basic facility like a clean and quiet toilet is missing from so many schools,” MDL Fonds director Mariël Croon said. “We know that inadequate school toilets make children sick. Clear guidelines are needed, and schools must be supported in developing policies.”
According to the MDL Fonds, schools should have at least one toilet per 15 students. Primary schools do meet this standard.
