Hygiene education and environmental sanitation in schools in Francophone West Africa : the report of an inter-country workshop to identify problems and options for improvement, EIER, Ouagadougou 19-21 April 1994

This document represents the proceedings of a workshop held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to assess the current environmental situation in schools in eight Francophone West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Togo), foster improvements and promote the role that improved school environments and more effective hygiene education can play in encouraging change in the environment of the community as a whole. Case studies were conducted in each country to provide background information on the regional situation. From the case studies, a set of common problems were identified: absence of water points and latrines in schools, lack of personnel qualified in hygiene education, lack of national policies on health education and inadequacy of resources for schools. The participants identified several possibilities for action and hygiene education in schools. They stressed the need for political will and appropriate policies. Better coordination between schools, communities, NGOs and government partners in education, health, public works and external donors were essential. School curricula need to be focused more closely on the norms and values of local societies, teachers need to understand the realities of families from which the children come and the teaching and facilities should reflect a harmony between school and community. The workshop recommended that each country create a plan of action to improve school environments and teaching of hygiene and seek national and international partners to help them implement change.