More scientific evidence is needed on impacts of WASH in schools action on the ground in the developing world. This is becoming clear from the online WASH in Schools debate that UNICEF and IRC are running until the end of May 2011.
Published on: 21/04/2011
More scientific evidence is needed on impacts of WASH in schools action on the ground in the developing world. This is becoming clear from the online debate that UNICEF and IRC are running until the end of May 2011 [1]. As Annemarieke Mooijman stated earlier in this discussion: “...consequently those working in WASH in Schools should stop making claims on impacts that cannot yet be proven (particularly related to girls attendance and drop-out) and focus on what can be proven (increased knowledge on hygiene, reduced WASH-related diseases).”
This is also confirmed by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Institute of Education in their March 2011 review of the impact of separate toilets for girls on their enrolment and attendance in schools [2]. The authors conclude: “We did not identify any studies that were designed specifically to assess the impact of separate-sex toilets. And to date, no trial has been registered to assess the impact of separate-sex toilets (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; and the Campbell Library), suggesting that no evaluations are currently underway”.
They also systematically researched five studies in which separate toilets for girls were included as part of a broader WASH intervention supported by UNICEF and designed to evaluate local adaptations of UNICEF’s School Sanitation & Hygiene Education (SSHE). Based on the review of these studies, and follow-up correspondence with their authors, the report concludes that "there is evidence neither for nor against the impact of separate toilets for girls on their educational outcomes".
[1] Join the online debate on WASH in Schools, E-Source, 23 May 2011
[2] Birdthistle, I., Dickson, K., Freeman, M. and Javidi, L.. (2011). What is the impact of separate toilets for girls at schools on girls’ educational outcomes? : a systematic review of the evidence. London, UK, MARCH Centre at LSHTM and EPPI-Centre, University of London. Download full report. (PDF, 447 KB)
Source: Dick de Jong, WASH in Schools debate, 21 Apr 2011
