Government schools in 5 city zones lack proper toilets: Report

For most students in poorer areas of the city, it is an everyday battle as the toilets in their schools, run by the government, are in an unusable condition. While a Human Development Report by the State Planning Commission and Chennai Corporation, with regard literacy and education, claimed that at least 40 government schools in the city did not have separate toilets for girls about a year ago, the situation remains the same even now in most schools. “Though we have a toilet, we never use it since it is not maintained properly. There is no water,” said K Gowri (name changed), a Class 7 student at a government school in Tondiarpet.

The Planning Commission report, which was based on the 2011 Census, was a maiden attempt to study and document human development in Chennai in recent times. The study was conducted in 10 zones — Tondiarpet, Basin Bridge, Pulianthope, Aynavaram, Kilpauk, Ice House, Nungambakkam, Kodambakkam, Saidapet and Mylapore.

As per the report, 326 government schools are located in the 10 zones and schools in Tondiarpet, Pulianthope, Ayanavaram, Kodambakkam and Saidapet do not have proper toilet facilities. “Many government schools lack basic amenities like water facilities,” an education department official said.

Tamil Nadu State Platform for Common School System general secretary PB Prince Gajendra Babu said, “If proper toilets are not provided for students in schools, it is a gross violation of RTE Act. It is also a violation of fundamental rights of the students.”

Education Minister KA Sengottiyan, who recently reviewed the infrastructure in government schools, said steps will be taken to improve facilities in state-owned schools with private partnership if necessary.