There is no denying the fact that educated and healthy human resources are a key requirement for national development and schools play a pioneering role in this regard.
The proper state of schools should therefore remain a fundamental concern of countries that are trying to break free from the shackles of underdevelopment.
Unfortunately, school conditions in Ghana, a 65-year-old sovereign country still reeling in the web of backwardness, leave much to be desired, especially in public schools.
The presence of decent toilets, urinals and drinking water facilities is still a major problem in many schools.
Dilapidated structures, logistical deficits and bushy surroundings are an unfortunate sight to behold in most of our schools.
According to UNICEF and the Ghana Statistical Service, only two (2) out of five (5) schools in Ghana have toilets or latrines and running water.
Interestingly, there are 18,530, 8,850 and 900 public primary schools, junior high schools (JHS) and senior high schools (SHS) respectively in the country.
This means that thousands of public schools in the country do not have toilets, latrines and water facilities.
Even those who have it, do not have it adequately and are also not in good shape.
A situation that forces students to miss classes because they are forced to alternate using the equipment at the expense of their academic well-being.
It is bizarre that some students and teachers are forced to patronize commercial toilets near their reach which are not free.
Because of the above, open defecation, a major contributor to disease, is a common practice in many schools.
It is against this background that the arrival of the Sanitation Foundation's African schools is refreshing news.
The Africa Schools Sanitation Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), apolitical and non-affiliated religious organization that aims to mobilize resources to build, renovate toilets and provide a suitable general school environment in public schools in Africa with a particular focus on Ghana.
The founder of the foundation, Mr. Osei Tutu, a renowned Ghanaian broadcaster, says his group is focused on providing a decent school environment for public schools in Africa, especially in Ghana.
He explained that his entity seeks to mobilize the resources of the community, individuals and businesses to achieve a set goal.
According to him, individual governments have proven that they alone cannot solve the problems facing Ghanaians.
Therefore, it is imperative that citizens engage in development efforts by rethinking the spirit of communal work and mobilization for the common good.
He indicated that providing a decent school environment, especially suitable for toilets and urinals, is a step in the right direction.
“This is because providing the above will eradicate disease from our schools to meet the health needs of students and teachers.
Criticizing the current state of sanitation in schools, Mr Tutu revealed that research conducted by Water Aid in 2013 showed that a whopping 1.5 million school children are killed in sub-Saharan Africa every year due to unsanitary conditions in our schools.
He therefore called on individuals, communities and businesses to partner with his outfit and adopt at least a school in their areas for a massive facelift exercise.
The founder revealed that currently the foundation, thanks to the benevolence of some individuals, has built and renovated toilets in four schools across the country.
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