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Contents

I Introduction 1

II - ProjectMatrix 2

III SectoralBackground 3

IV ProjectDescription 6

V - ProjectBudget 9

VI - Imp1emet~tation 10

VII Sustainability 15

VIII Assumptions 17

SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

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[SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative [

I Introduction

~his discussion paper outlines UNICEF/Governmentof~ Bangladesh’sSchoolSanitationProjectwhich is nowreadyfor

LU~ scalmgup.

Accessto waterand sanitationfacilities is everychild’s basicright.This projectis crucial in helping to fulfill this right, andmeetthisneed,as it not only dealswith the issue of accessto water andsanitationfacilities, but deliberatelysetsout to createa new mindframe and indeed environment that will support and sustainimproved hygiene practices in individuals and together as acommunity. Facilitatingtheconstructionandmaintenanceof waterand sanitationfacilities in primary schools,experiential learningand participation, communitymobilization,and the developmentof primary schoolsas a resourcecenterfor supportingimprovedsanitationand hygienepracticesare the activitiesat the centerofthis project.

As partof theproject’searlieractivities,a seriesof implementationinnovationshavebeentried out. Outputsandprocesseshavebeencarefully and thoroughlymonitoredandthe emergingtrendsandresultshavehada substantialimpacton theemergingdesignof theSchoolSanitationProject.

It is envisagedthat this paperwill serveasa basisfor discussionsand will, in somepart, form the basisof an appraisablefundingproposal that will subsequentlybe produced for consideration,within anagreedtime frame.

SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

‘II PROJEC1’ MATRIX - SCHOOL SANITATION AND- SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

~f~i~7: Narrative Summarys~______

Performance indicators Monitoring and Supervision Assumptions

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• nrprove environmenfandquality of Ills,especiallyof childrenandwomen,byreducingrisksof dlarrhoealtnddencesend parasiticwormtnfealations

S Enableever~’householdto have~ccessto safewaferandsanitationaswell astodecideon hygienicbehaviors,

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S Mak~the primaryschoolaresourcecenterfor developinghygienic behaviorsemongchildrenandleathersandpromotingsuchbehaviorsIn theirownhousehoidsandthe community

• ReductionIn diarrhoea• ReductIonIn malnutrition• ReductionIn wormlnteslaliorrS Reductionof women’stime in water

collection

• Untversaiaccessoendsalewateruse(drinking and domesticpurpose)

S Use ofsanliarylatrinesby eliS Safe excreladisposal(including

children’sfaeces)• Properheedwnshlngt~~it• Cleannails -

S improvedCurriculumcontentsS Extentand quality of students’and

teachers’lnvotvemenfIn schoolprojectsand community actlelies

• Annualmultiple indfcatordustersurvey(MICS)

• Samplesurvey (before andattertheproject)

• MtCS

• Study of knowledge,attitudeand praclice(KAP) beforeandafterthe project

• Regularmonitoringby OPE• SampleSurvey• Sell monitoring by studentsandleathers

S Strong Political will andlnleraectoralcoordinationamonggovernmentagenciestowardspolicy making,planningendimptemenialion

S Availability of affordabletechnologyandmeanswlihln the reachof the poorestand themostusinereble

S School teachersandSMC membersutilize the potentialsof theschoolandtheir ownpositionsin societytowasrdsbehavIor-atdevelopmentandchange

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• Meetbasic requirementsof waterandsanitationfacilities ~ndudflngprivacyforglri studentsend womenteachers)In allpdmsryschools

S Createawarenessamongschoolchildren,feathersand SMC membersabouthealth/nutritionbenefitsdue tocleanenvironment,safewateruse, endhygienicbehaviors

• Enablethem to fakepersonalaction endmotivatehouseholdandothercommunitymembers

S Use/maintenanceofdrinking waterfacilities andlatrinesfor gitis & boys

S Increasedattendanceand completion,especiallyamongglri students

S ChangeIn knowledge,altitude andpractIceamongstudents,teachersandSMC membem

S Changein knowledge,altitude andpracticeamongparentsandothercommunity membersduetostudentsandteachers

S RegularMonItorIng by OPHE• Quarterlyenrollment! attendancereport

by OPES Saniptesurvey

S KAP study beforeandafterprojectS Action researchselectedareasS Samplesurvey

• Schooucomrsr.mitysurveillancebystudentsand teachers

S Action researchIn selectedareasS Regularmonitoringby andDPES KAP sludy beforeendalterprojecf

• TeachemandSMC membersmobilizefocally availableresourcesanduseestemalcontributionsresponsibly

S TeachersandSMC membersutfirzeexperientiallearningmethodologyforactive participationof studentsandbehavioraldevelopment

S TeachersandSMCmembersareInnovative In directing childrentoexperimentIn thelocal contestwithavailableresources

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• 26,onowatsenfadlillesconstructedoverS yearsthroughSMC5 In schoolsthatdon’t havethem

• Participation01 studentsandteachersInschoolprojectson hygiene,sanitationendsatewater

S Ftonsehold/community mobilizationbystudents,teachersend SMCfor cleanenvironment!healthybehaviors

S Guidanceandmotivailonby DPFIE,PMED, OHSaswelt aspoirtical andsodalIreli~ousfeedersatall leveis

S AvailabIlity of watsenfacilities In altschools

S Enihustasmfor leemingamongstudentsandleathers

S Behaviouralchangeamongstudents

S Increasein accesstowaterandsanilallonfadirtles

S Adoption of hygienIcpractices

S GuIdelinesfor implementation

• Regutarmonitoringby OPHES ORE annualschoolsurveyS Samplesurvey

• Regularmonitoringby OPES Self-monitoringbystudentsS KAP studybeforeandafterproject)

• MICS• SamptesurveyS (AR Study (beforeend alterproject)

• Samplesurvey to assessuseandetfectsofguidelines

S Monitoring of schoolplans

• Etfective allianceof alt stakeholders

S Provision In schoo~for Innovations• TEQ5/ATEQ5 mobilize schoolprojectsin

all schools

S Cornmunilymembershaveaccesstonecessarymeansand ability for adoplingbeiravioralchange

S Propercoordinationamongconcemedagenciesandplanningatschool,community unIonlevel

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S Matedaisand otherresourcesfor 26,000walsanfacilriles- Fromoutside handpumps,PVCmaterials,cement- Locally procured sanitarylatrines, ironrods,sand,khoa,brick, labourbymasons/mistris,unskilledlabour

S Materialsfor 57,600schools- Dewormingtablets- Walt dippers

S Informailon, EducationandCommunicationmaterialsfor 57,600schools- Trainingpackages- Resourcematerialsforschoolprojects

Tmlnings/oriantationsfor humanresourcesdevelopment

- - Disirict facet officials

- Thanalevef officials- Con¶rsctors/masons

‘ - Teachers/SMC/FTNUPmombers

5 ConstmdtionasperdesIgn

• Deworming scheduie,no of studentsS Use paltemof nail dippers

S Use paitemol IEC materials

S RegularScheduleandsufficient numberof tralnings

• Supply4rocriremenlldistrihuilonrecordsS School recordskept by SMCsS Monitoring by DPHE/DPES Samplesurveyof delivery mechanisms,

Installations,andenduse

S Sell monitoring by sludenis/feachers• Reportsby CIvil SurgeonsS School records

S SamplemonIlortngof materialsandthstrInfluences

S Schoolrecords

S Distributionof training packageandresourcematerialsSamplesurvey ofskills andmotivation

S Samplesurveyof tmlnlng/otientations,typesof padicipanfs,effects

S Requiredamountsof quality malerialsaredeliveredin time throughprivatesectoror public sector inlilatives

• Satisfactoryservicestsrlnstailattorilrepalr

S Deworningand nail dipping areusedasentry polnfs torsiuchnts’bshawouraidevelopment

S Materialsprnducedare Insprringandlnnovatrve

S TImeliness,synchronizetionasdmulualreinforcementol trainings- jiechnicelaspects,OPHE;educationalaspecis,ORE; organizailonal/motIvationalaspects,NGO5)

S Trainedpersonspracilcewhatthey havefeamed

HI Sectoral Background

Situation Analysis

Poor environmentalsanitationand hygienepractices,combinedwith limited use of safe water contribute to high diarrhoealincidenceand parasitic infestation,particularly among children.On average,eachchild underfive yearsof agehasmore than 3diarrhoealepisodesperyear,leadingto 260,000deaths- a third ofall child deaths- and causingchild growth interruptionswhich inturnresultsin malnutrition. Theprevalenceof parasiticinfestationsin children can be over 85%,which contributesmassivelyto thenutritional problemsfacingthechildrenof Bangladesh.

Sustainedefforts have resulted in high water supply coveragethroughoutBangladesh.Justa generationagopeopledrankfromopenpondsandstreams.Todaynearlyeveryone(97%) hasaccessto, and drinks from, a protected tubewell (BBS 1996). This

kehavioral change ~~promoted through the widespreadinstallationof thehandpumj 1~~Il.Howeverdes~Ti~ethis highcoverage,therehasbeensurprisinglylittle reductionin water-borneandhygiene-relatedsickness.

Poorhumanwastedisposalis evenmore influential in spreadingdisease.Heretoo therehasbeensignificantsuccessin recentyearswith access to sanitary latrines in rural areas increasingsignificantly from just 21% in 1990 to 44% in 1995 (BBS 1995).Ninety per centof farpilies with a sanitarylatrine useit regularly(Mitra 1992). Howeverover two-thirdsof therural populationstillpollute theenvironmentthroughtheuseof non-sanitarylatrinesoropendefecation. Furthermoreit is estimatedthat only about27%of therural populationwashtheir handsusingsoapandwaterafterdefecation (BBS 1996). There is a low understandingof therelationship betweengood sanitation, hygiene and water, andhealth,althoughmostpeopleareawarethat drinking unsafewatercancausediarrhoea.

SCH OOL SANITATION PROJ ECT; A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

Nearlyhalf of all rural primaryschoolsdonot havebasicsanitationand water facilities. This is not only a missed opportunity topromote good sanitationand hygiene practicesamongstschoolchildren, their parentsand the wider community; it is also animportantfactorin discouraginggirls from attendingschool.

The “hardware” revolution - the provision of safetubewell waterand sanitarylatrines - is now well established. Bringing abouta“software” revolution- changingpersonalhygienehabits- is nowthemajorenvironmentalandhealthchallengein Bangladesh

III Current Programmes

UNICEF has two major Sanitation,Hygiene and Water Supplyprogrammesin Bangladesh,one focusing on rural areasand theother on urban slums and fringe areas. As part of the ruralprogramme,UNICEFinitiated theSchoolSanitationProjectin 1992.

At thestartof this project,emphasiswasplacedon theconstructionof waterandsanitationfacilities with thebelief that thesefacilitiesconstitutea basicrequirementin the schools.Today,constructionactivities arebeing supplementedby a more deliberatefocus onbehavioraldevelopmentamongschoolchildren, so that personalhygiene,sanitationandsafewaterusebecomeintegralto their lifestyle. Experientiallearningis beingpromotedby encouragingtheiractiveparticipationin extra-curricularactivitiesin partnershipwithteachers,parents and members of the School ManagementCommittee(SMC).

This evolution mirrors the changing emphasisin the UNICEF-assistedprogrammeon Water and Environmental Sanitation.Bangladeshis already renownedworldwide for the spectacularsuccessin havingachieved97% national coveragefor accessto asafewatersupplywithin 150m of thehousehold.Thelastfewyearshavealsoseena sharprise in sanitarylatrine coverage. However,thechallengeremainsin sofar as thedaily depositof 20,000MT offreshhumanexcretastill contributesto a heavypathogenload onpublic land and all water sourcesthrough open defecationorhanginglatrines.

SCHOOL SAN ITATI ON PROJ ECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

Main issues & Govt. Strategy

With the Prime Minister recentlystating that all primary schoolsmust havewatersupplyandseparatelavatoriesfor boysandgirls,the commitmentof theGovernmentto theoutcomesof this projectis clear. This commitment also finds its expression in theGovernment’ssupportfor the achievementof theYear 2000goalsfor children, its ratification of the Conventionon the Rights of theChild and its signing of thejoint UNICEF/GovernmentMasterofPlan of Operationsfor the current Country Programme(1996 -

2000) =

Rationale for UNIICEF’s involvement

Theintersectoralnatureof this projectprovidesstronggroundsforUNICEF’s involvement, UNICEF continuesto hold programmaticleadershipin the provision of safe water supplies and sanitarylatrines. The School Sanitationproject is a major componentinbringing about desired behavioral change throughout thecommunityin orderto increasetheprovisionof, and correctuseofsafe water and sanitation facilities and bring about improvedpersonalhygienepractices.

As a majorcomponentof the evolvingSafeLearningEnvironmentinitiative, this is enhancingthequality of schoolsand theeducationavailableto studer~tsby introducingexperientialandproject-basedlearning and teachingpractices. It is also a key ingredient inincreasingthe enrolmentand retention bf girls in schools andthereforecrucial in enablingBangladeshto reachits ambitiousgoalsfor theeducationof its children.

SCH OOL SAN hAil ON PROJ ECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

IV Project Description

Conceptual basisw

It is now clearlyrecognizedthat it is ot thepresenceof a pumpora latrine alone which makes a itical difference in improvingpeople’s health. What is itally important is people’sunderstandingof theseame ties’ health-improvingvirtues, andwhetherand how they use jhem. Hygienic behavior,includinghandwashing,is thekey.

Thecurrentemphasisis henceon (i) creatinga “~iindframe” whichleads to a clean environmentand healthy behaviorsand (ii) onbringing about greater convergencewith such efforts as oralrehydrationtherapy,diarrhoealcasemanagement,breast-feeding,immunizations, and nutritional supplements. In this respect,attention is being placed on the potentials of primary schoolstudentsthemselvesto learn appropriatebehavior and throughthemto motivateparentsandothercommunitymemberstowardsthesedesirablebehavioralchanges.

Objectives/targets/Year 2000 goals

• To increasesanitarylatrinecoveragefrom thecurrent44%inruralBangladeshto 80%by theYear2000

• To improvepersonalhygienepractices,particularlyincreasingthelevel of handwashingwith soapafterdefecationfrom thecurrent27%to 80%

• To make primary school a resourcecentre for developinghygienic behaviours among ~tudents~-1~achersand SchoolManagementCommittee(SMC) membersas well as parentsandothercommunitymembers.

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SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

Geographic Scope

This projectwill coverall schoolsin all 64 districtsof Bangladeshina phasedmanner,thatwill mirror theimplementationof anumberof UNICEFprogrammesthroughtheADA strategy. Programmingwork for theSchoolSanitationProjecthasalreadybeenundertakenin morethan120 thanasin 51 districts.

Gender perspective

An assessmentdonein 1994 showsthat the atlendanceof girls inClass III to V in the sampleschoolswherewater and sanitationfacilities hadbeeninstalledroseon averageby 11%. This wasduein part to the activesocialmobilization campaignfor compulsoryprimary educationfor all. l3ut what is remarkableis that the girlrespondentsindicated that the privacy provided by separatelatrines for girls wasan importantcontributoryfactor. This aloneprovides a strong impetus for acceleratingthe School SanitationProgramme.

Rights perspective

This projecthasa direct impacton meetinga numberof universallyaccepted”rights”that childrenhave,asdetailedin the Conventionon the Rights of the Child. Theserelateparticularly to rights toaccessquality education,to attain an adequatestandardof livingand thehighestpossiblestandardsof healthcare(Articles 24,27,28and 29 of theConventionon theRightsof theChild)

Environmental perspective

The environmenta’impactof this projectis explicit andsignificant.The immediateimpact will be a reductionin the pathogenloadwithin theschoolor learningenvironment. Throughprogrammedbehavioralchange,first in students,teachersand thenparentsandeventually the wider community there will. be an increase indemandfor sanitarylatrinehardware,a decreasein the pathogenload within the environmentand a decreasein hygienerelateddiseaseincidenceandmalnutrition.

SCHOOL SAN hAil ON PROJ ECT: A Safe Learning Environ m ent Initiative

Demographic perspective

In Bangladeshdemographicgrowthremainsproblem numberone.This projectwill havea positive impacton demographicgrowthintwo ways. Therelationshipbetweenhigherlevelsof educationforgirls and a reduction in the number of children they maysubsequentlygive birth to is well documentedand understood.The positive effect on girls enrolmentand attendancein schoolsfrom theprovisionof secureandsanitarylatrineshasbeenclearlyshownin theindicativeprogranimingphaseof this project.

Equallywell documentedandunderstoodis thelink betweenchildsurvivalanda loweringbirth rate. For exampleit is estimatedthatif the goals for under five mortality were to be achieved,Bangladesh’stotal population for the year 2000 would be 127million, eight million less than the UN’s own low projection.Improvementsin hygienepracticesanda reducedpathogenloadinthe environment,both outcomesof this project, will contributedirectly to a decreaseJr~daildhooddiseaseincidenceandthereforehavea positive impacton child mortality rates.

SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Safe Learning Enyironment Initiative

V Project Budget

Indicative Budgetw

This budgetis basedon costincurredduring the programmingofthe schoolwater and sanitationfacilities in 5 districts in differentparts of the country where the AcceleratedDistrict Approach(ADA) will be pursuedintensively in 1997. The characteristicsinADA districtsareasfollows.Average no of schoolsper Thanain ADA districts 160 on average

AveragepopulationperThanain ADA districts 260,000on average

Total number of primary schools in Bangladesh 57,600

Average percentage of schools without WATSAN faci~itlesBeforeUNICEF intervention in ADA districts 50%Nationalaverage 45%

Average unit cost of watsan facilityShallowtubewells(includingsoftwarecostof $220) $1,060Tara handpumps(including softwarecostof $220) $1,200Deeptubewells(including softwarecostof $220) $1,720

Percentage whereShallow tubewellsareapplicable 62%Deep tubewells are applicable 11%Tara handpumps areapplicable 27%

Total no of schools where watsan facilities required 26,000Shallow tubewells 16,000Deeptubewells 3,000Tara handpumps I 7,000

Estimated costsTotal $30 millionShallowtubewells $17millionDeep tubewells $ 5 millionTara handpumps $ 8 million

Average cost per district $470,000

SCH 001 SAN hAil ON PROJ ECT: A Safe Learning Environm ent Initiative

VI Implementation

Institutional Arrangement

See Figure on the next page for details on the institutionalarrangementthat is currently beingpursued. This provides thebasisfor thescalingup proposedhere.

Distribution of deworming tabletsand nail clippersThese act as an entry point and educational tool to promoteimprovedsanitationand hygieneamong the studentsas well astheir siblingsandparents,thusreinforcingbehavioralchangeto bebroughtaboutby theconstructionof WaterandSanitationfacilities.

Project Based Approach toSafe Learning Environments

Teachersandstudentsin eachschoolwill identify a schoolbasedproject for learning about hygienic behaviour,safe disposal ofwaste,contaminationandpreservationof environment,anddiseaseprevention.Childrenwill identify anentrypoint for startup of eachproject and then branch out to other related areasso that theyunderstandin a practicalproject how safewater, wastedisposal,hygienicbehaviourdiseasepreventionareall relatedto eachother.Severalentrypointshavebeenidentifiedandarebeingused.Theseincludetheintroductionof nail clippers,dewormingtablets,waterpumpsin theschoolandimprovedlatrines.This newapproachwillbe more meaningful for children, and engagethe children’smultiple intelligencesin a practicalandinterestingsetof activities.

SCHOOL SANITATION PROJ ECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

The Process and Concerned Agencies/Actors in the School Sanitation Programme

Eachteacherwill be givenanorientationon thenew projectbasedmethods,arid provided with a resourcekit which includes adescriptionof theproject,projectideas,informationon factsfor life,guidelineson project development,and ideason entry point andrelationshipmapsto other relatedactivities.

School as a resource centre andagent for change in the community

Theprojectswill initiate communityextensionactivities to involvefamilies and the community in the project activities so that the

W children and their families reinforce eachOther in the new skills

learnedthrough the project and the community is supportiveofchildren to addresssome of the wider issues which only thecommunityat largecouldmeaningfullytackle.Theschoolwill beasettingin which manyof thesocialservicesconverge.It will becomea resourcecentrefor thecommunitywherechildrenandadultswillinteractto learnfrom eachother.

Financing plan

So far this project hasbeenfundedby UNICEF throughits ownGeneralResources. Scaling up of this project will be fundedthrough SupplementaryFundsfrom externaldonors.

Procurement and Disbursement MechanismsAt themomentUNICEF procuresthesuppliesfor this programmeand these are dispersed through DPHE stores. The SchoolManagementCommitteesaccess these supplies from DPHE’sThanalevelstores. HoweverUNICEFbelievesthat thereis muchmerit in experimentingwith developingprivate sectorcapacitytoprovidesuppliesfor this programme.Costandquality levelscouldbe controlled through a bidding processand quality could bemonitored by an independentagency contractedby UNICEF.Another issuethat is beinglookedinto is how to ensureconsumerprotectionandoperationalizean accountablefunding mechanismthroughtheSchoolManagementCommitteeson a largescale.

SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

TimetableTheimplementationof theSchoolSanitationProjectwill bephasedover five years (1997 - 2001), by which time all schools in all 64districts of the countrywill beparticipating. This implementationschedulemirrors that of UNICEF’s AcceleratedDistrict Approachto programmeimplementation.

1997 5 DistrIcts1998 15 DIstricts1999 15 Districts2000 15 Districts2001 14 Districts

LU

Management of the Prolect

UNICEF: From within UNICEF this project will bemanagedby ateam who will be responsiblefor coordination,monitoring andfollow up. Team memberswill have expertise in Water andEnvironmental Sanitation, Education, Child Rights, ChildParticipation, Procurementand Supply. This team will besupportedby ProjectFundsandwill utilize UNICEF’s ADA staffstructure and field presencefor coordination, monitoring andfollow up. -

DPHE: Four activities will be performedby DPHE. (i) They willundertake technical training at all levels; and (ii) they willundertakeorientationactivitiesatthedistrict level; (iii) theywill actas the channelthroughwhich disbursementswill be madeto theSMCs in cooperationwith the Tharia Nirbalii Officer; and (iv)regular monitoring, especiallyof the constructionof water andsanitationfacilities. For thesethe capacity alreadyexists withinDPI-lIE. Howeverfor (iv) monitoringimplementationandensuringquality UNICEF will needto facilitate capacitybuilding within forDPHEto be effective.

DPE: There are three major activities ~rhich will involve DPE(I)training teachers,(ii) distributingtrainingmaterialsandresourcepackages,(ii) monitoring school level activities through ThanaEducationOfficers and AssistantThanaEducationOfficers. Thecapacityalreadyexistwithin DPEto performall theseactivities.

SCH 001 SANITATION PROJ ECT: A Safe Learning Environm ent Initiative

4 3

Monitoring indicators

Activities andoutputsat all levelsof this projectwill bemonitoredappropriately.Methodswill includethealreadyestablishedannualMultiple Indicator Cluster Survey, Knowledge Attitude andPractice Studies, Monitoring by Thana EducationOfficers, theUnion WatsanCommitteechairpersonand UNICEF staff. Pleaserefer to theProjectMatrix at thebeginningof this paperfor a moredetailed breakdown of the various indicators to be used andmethodsof monitoring these.

Evaluations! Reviews

The SchoolSanitationProjectwill be subjectto an annualinternalUNICEF peerreview,facilitatedby theChief of WES andChief ofEducation. This will involve UNICEF staff, consultants andGovernmenlcounterparts.This processwill feedinto the“annual”reportingprocessto donors.

It is also proposedthat therebe a bi-annual project review bydonors. This would befacilitatedby theChief of WES.

Agreements with Govf/ other implementors

As this projectis notedin theUNICEF/ Governmentof BangladeshMaster Plan of Operations, it already has the support ofGovernmentandthereforetheGovernmentimplementingagencies,including DPHE.

SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Sale Learning Environment Initiative

VII Sustainability

Appropriate technologyLU

The technologyusedwithin this project is alreadybeing widelyused throughout Bangladesh,indeed most of the handpumptechnology was developedwithin this country. Therefore theinfrastructureneeded to maintain and service these pumps isalreadyin placeatthevillage level. Waterseallatrineswill beusedin all installations,whicharealsomanufacturedwithin Bangladesh.The maintenanceof thesewill be the subject of training andparticipatoryprojectwork within theschoolenvironment.

Democratic participation anddecentralization

In 1995,aspartof theindicativeprogrammingphaseof thisproject,an action-researchstudy in Moulavibazarwas carried out in 5schoolsto engageSMCsin managementandimplementationof theSchool SanitationProgrammewithin their own schools. Severalstrongreasonswerefoundthat indicatedtheperformanceby SMCsto befar superiorto that by contractorshiredby DPHE. The timetakenby SMCsfor completionof constructionwas,for example,28daysas opposedto 7-10 monthsby contractors. The quality ofmaterialsusedand theoverall constructionby SMCswereprovento be cost-effectiveand as per specificationsand plan-design.Contractorshiredby DPHE generallyquotedcoststhatwere 80%higher. But mostimportantly, the initiative by theSMC promotedand ensuredparticipation,empowermentandsenseof ownershipamongthe communitywhile at the sametime encouraginglocalcapacitybuilding as well asbetter managementof the WATSANfacilities.

SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

Community Participation

CommunityParticipationat all levelsof this projectis crucial to thesuccessof this project in termsof both effectiveness(makingsurethat the various activitiesoccur) and efficiency (ensuringthat thequality of work is high while costs are kept low). The action-researchstudy in Moulavibazarin 1995stronglysupportsthis.

All threephasesof the implementationprocessof this project hasbeendesignedto maximizecommunityinvolvement,participationandownershipof theprocess.

w PhaseI - Preconstruction. The SchoolManagementCommitteesmadeup of representativesof the local communitywill plan theconstructionprocess,engaging trained labor and liaising withThanaandDPHEofficials with regardto funding andprocurementof supplies. The community through the School ManagementCommittee will also provide land for the school water andsanitationfacilities.

Phase2 - Construction. Thisprocesswill beoverseenby theSchoolManagementCommittee,who may also facilitate the donationoflabor and materials from the community. Where SchoolManagementCommitteeshavebeenthoroughly involved in thisprocessin the past, it has beennoticed that the quality of theconstructionwork is extremelyhighanda numberof extrafeaturesare often added to the building enhancingthe quality of thefacilities provided.

Phase3-Postconstruction.Throughchildrenandteachersworkingon lesson-basedprojects, both in the school and community,promotingand improving their own hygienicbehaviorandgivingpractical demonstrationsat home and the community the schoolwill serve as a resourcecenter and an agentfor changein thecommunity. Project-basedlearning will promotedevelopmentand changein hygienic behavior among school children, theirfamilies andcommunityto improve their healthandquality of lifethrough reducing morbidity, mortality and environmentaldegradation.

SCHOOL SAN ITATION PROJECT: A Safe Learning Environment Initiative

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VIII Assumptions

~ he integrationof accessto safewaterandsanitationfacilities,cleanenvironmentandhygienicbehaviorswill leadto health

~ and nutrition benefitsand thereforecontributeto enhancing LU

the survival and developmentopportunitiesof the children ofBangladesh.WaterandSanitationfacilities arebasicnecessitiesforstudentsandteachers.

Awareness,behavioraldevelopmentandcommunitymobilizationcan be generatedby demonstratingthe use and maintenanceofWater and Sanitation facilities and by prQmoting experientiallearningabouthygienicbehaviorsthroughtheactiveparticipationof studentsand teachersin schoolandcommunitybasedprojects.

In schoolsthat do not havewaterandsanitationfacilities (45%),theprocessof building facilities and experiential learning basedonschoolandcommunityprojectswill inculcatebehavioralchangeinstudents,teachersand the community. Extending training andlearningresourcepackagesto thoseschoolsthatalreadyhavewaterandsanitationfacilities will generateanequallyeffectivebehavioralchange paradigm among students, teachers and the widercommunity.

Support for this initiative exists from the highest level ofGovernmentthrough to the village, though clearly a thoroughunderstandingof the links betweenpoor sanitationand hygienepracticesto achild’s healthandnutritional status,to child mortalityand morbidity, to populationgrowth ratesis moreevident in thehigherlevelsof governmentthanat thevillage level. At thevillagelevel motivating factorsfor theSchoolManagementCommitteearemorerelatedto a desireto developtheirschoolandencouragetheirchildrento attend.

SCHOOL SANITATION PROJECT: A Sale Learning Environment Initiative

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V