It is learnt that all government schools in Goa will now be assessed in sanitation and hygiene practices adopted by them as part of the central government’s ambitious ‘Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar’ initiative. This award has been instituted by the Ministry of Education Government of India in order to recognize and inspire excellence in sanitation and hygiene practice in schools. The key objective of the initiative is reportedly to have sustainable, child-friendly hand-washing and sanitation facilities in schools besides adherence to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.
There also needs to be sufficient round-the-clock availability of water supply in the government schools. It should be a regular practice by school authorities to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation throughout the academic year. School children need to grow in a clean environment. They should also be taught about proper practices of hygiene, especially growing girls who have attained puberty. The sanitation and hygienic practices need to be adopted in private schools as well. It would be in the fitness of things for the government health officials to carry out periodic checks of the various sanitation facilities available in both government and private schools.
