Following consternation over the Phillipai Primary in Region Seven having a latrine, an Education Ministry survey has found that 77 hinterland schools have such outdoor facilities, sources say.
The revelation will raise further questions about government’s spending priorities with the fifth anniversary of oil production just months away and over US$1b in petroleum revenues pumped into the 2024 budget.
Stabroek News had reported last month that a survey was being done by the ministry to determine the number of latrines still in use. This had been disclosed by Education Minister Priya Manickchand in response to a question by Stabroek News.
Asked on Thursday for an update on the survey, Manickchand declined to provide any information except to say that residents will provide some of the materials in Phillipai for the construction of the sanitary block there.
News about the survey was however provided yesterday by Alliance For Change Leader Nigel Hughes who had several weeks ago raised questions about the latrine at Phillipai.
At the AFC press conference on Friday, Hughes stated that the survey was completed and revealed that 77 schools including primary, secondary and nursery have pit latrines in regions 7, 8 and 9 and that these are serving over 5000 learners.
Hughes emphasised that the situation showcased systematic discrimination against indigenous people as they are the only ones attending educational facilities with such sanitation facilities. The AFC leader called on the Minister of Education to release the report titled “MOE Information on Sanitary Facilities/Latrines.” He advocated for immediate funding to replace pit latrines in the 77 schools with flush toilets. Hughes condemned the current conditions as unacceptable, characterizing them as a form of unofficial mistreatment that relegates students to second-class citizenship.
“MOE said she was going to cause the Ministry to conduct a survey of pit latrines after we raised the issue in relation to Phillipai. Survey completed and results indicated 77 schools which have pit latrines, all of them are in Indigenous areas and they are in excess of 5000 students who are attending schools which only have pit latrines. This is the clearest evidence of discriminatory systems in relation to the indigenous people, they are the only students who attend educational facilities with pit latrines”, Hughes declared.
Manickchand, in an earlier interview with Stabroek News had noted that the education system had been decentralised and as such schools are managed by the regional governance system. The ministry had however asked for information about all schools that have pit latrines.
“The central ministry has asked for all schools that have pit latrines. What we are doing right now is finding out how many schools, if any at all, are using pit latrines and then we will have to look at conditions that exist and that are being required for them to transition to flush toilets.”
The information below has been extracted from the Ministry’s report on pit latrines
Region 1
1. Kariako Primary
– Enrolment: 218 (115 male, 103 female)
– Latrines: 1
– Flush Toilets: 0
Region 7
2. Jawalla Nursery
– Enrolment: 63 (31 male, 32 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 0
3. Phillipai Nursery
– Enrolment: 104 (52 male, 52 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 0
4. Kamarang Nursery
– Enrolment: 58 (29 male, 29 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 0
5. Kako Nursery
– Enrolment: 44 (20 male, 24 female)
– Latrines: 3
– Flush Toilets: 0
6. Waramadong Nursery
– Enrolment: 55 (26 male, 29 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 0
7. Paruima Nursery
– Enrolment: 41 (28 male, 13 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 0
8. Jawalla Primary
– Enrolment: 359 (177 male, 182 female)
– Latrines: 3
– Flush Toilets: 0
9. Kaikan Primary
– Enrolment: 92 (46 male, 46 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 2
10. Kako Primary
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 2
11. Kamarang Primary
– Enrolment: 232 (113 male, 119 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 2
12. Paruima Primary
– Enrolment: 127 (67 male, 60 female)
– Latrines: 1
– Flush Toilets: 2
13. Imbaimadai Primary
– Enrolment: 154 (92 male, 62 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 2
14. Wax Creek Primary
– Enrolment: 68 (33 male, 35 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 0
15. Eteringbang Primary
– Enrolment: 156 (71 male, 85 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 0
16. DC Caesar Fox Secondary
– Enrolment: 553 (214 male, 339 female)
– Latrines: 1
– Flush Toilets: 0
Region 8
rukubaru Primary
– Enrolment: 171 (79 male, 92 female)
– Latrines: 3
– Flush Toilets: 0
27. Arasawa Primary
– Enrolment: 60 (32 male, 28 female)
– Latrines: 1
– Flush Toilets: 6
28. Maikwak Primary
– Enrolment: 34 (22 male, 12 female)
– Latrines: 3
– Flush Toilets: 1
29. Monkey Mountain Primary
– Enrolment: 252 (125 male, 127 female)
– Latrines: 2
– Flush Toilets: 7
30. Paramakatoi Primary
– Enrolment: 201 (113 male, 88 female)
– Latrines: 3
– Flush Toilets: 10
31. Bashville Primary
– Enrolment: 57 (30 male, 27 female)
– Latrines: 6
– Flush Toilets: 0
32. Taruka Primary
– Enrolment: 60 (27 male, 33 female)
– Latrines: 3
– Flush Toilets: 0
33. Tuseneng Primary
– Enrolment: 45 (31 male, 14 female)
– Latrines: 1
– Flush Toilets: 1
34. Waipa Primary
– Enrolment: 57 (31 male, 26 female)
– Latrines: 1
– Flush Toilets: 0
35. Sand Hill Primary
– Enrolment: 24 (15 male, 9 female)
– Latrines: 5
– Flush Toilets: 0
36. Kato Secondary
– Enrolment: 368 (164 male, 204 female)
– Latrines: 7
– Flush Toilets: 6
Region 9
NURSERY SCHOOLS
1. Nappi Nursery
Enrolment: 45 (20 male, 25 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 4
2. Yupukari Nursery
Enrolment: 38 (18 male, 20 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 0
3. Wowetta Nursery
Enrolment: 26 (14 male, 12 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 0
4. Annai Nursery
Enrolment: 28 (13 male, 15 female)
Latrines: 2
Flush Toilets: 4
5. Yakarinta Nursery
Enrolment: 46 (22 male, 24 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 3
6. Massara Nursery
Enrolment: 25 (12 male, 13 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 2
7. Shulinab Nursery
Enrolment: 23 (14 male, 9 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 3
8. Shea Nursery
Enrolment: 36 (21 male, 15 female)
Latrines: 3
Flush Toilets: 3
9. Karaudarnau Nursery
Enrolment: 40 (25 male, 15 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 2
10. Tiger Pond Nursery
Enrolment: 22 (13 male, 9 female)
Latrines: 2
Flush Toilets: 0
11. Yupukari Annex (Fly Hill)
Enrolment: 46 (23 male, 23 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 4
12. Quarrie Nursery
Enrolment: 33 (15 male, 18 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 0
13. Quatata Nursery
Enrolment: 45 (19 male, 26 female)
Latrines: 4
Flush Toilets: 0
14. Kaicumbay Nursery
Enrolment: 73 (32 male, 41 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 2
15. Semonie Nursery
Enrolment: 71 (30 male, 41 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 0
16. Sawariwau Nursery
Enrolment: 86 (44 male, 42 female)
Latrines: 2
Flush Toilets: 1
17. Macushi Nursery
Enrolment: 62 (35 male, 27 female)
Latrines: 2
Flush Toilets: Non-functional
18. Macushi Primary – Quiko Annex
Enrolment: 49 (24 male, 25 female)
Latrines: 2
Flush Toilets: 0
19. Katoonarib Nursery
Enrolment: 85 (43 male, 42 female)
Latrines: 2
Flush Toilets: 4
20. Parikwarunau Nursery
Enrolment: 51 (24 male, 27 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 0
21. Rupunau Nursery
Enrolment: 84 (42 male, 42 female)
Latrines: 6
Flush Toilets: 0
22. Katu’ur Nursery
Enrolment: 39 (20 male, 19 female)
Latrines: 2
Flush Toilets: 1
23. Annai Nursery
Enrolment: 116 (53 male, 63 female)
Latrines: 1
Flush Toilets: 5
24. Apoteri Nursery
Enrolment: 98 (43 male, 55 female)
Latrines 4
Flush Toilets: 0
Region 9
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
1. Aranaputa
– Enrolment: 73 (Male: 44, Female: 29)
– Number of Latrines: 1
– Number of Flush Toilets: 2
2. Crash Water
– Enrolment: 85 (Male: 44, Female: 41)
– Number of Latrines: 3
– Number of Flush Toilets: 1
3. Kwatamang
– Enrolment: 84 (Male: 39, Female: 45)
– Number of Latrines: 1
– Number of Flush Toilets: 1
4. Rewa
– Enrolment: 69 (Male: 40, Female: 29)
– Number of Latrines: 1
– Number of Flush Toilets: 0
5. Toka
– Enrolment: 36 (Male: 15, Female: 21)
– Number of Latrines: 1
– Number of Flush Toilets: 2
6. Achawib Annex (Bashaizon)
– Enrolment: 48 (Male: 21, Female: 27)
– Number of Latrines: 2
– Number of Flush Toilets: 1
7. Aishalton
– Enrolment: 204 (Male: 102, Female: 102)
– Number of Latrines: 2
– Number of Flush Toilets: 8
8. Karaudarnau
– Enrolment: 148 (Male: 83, Female: 65)
– Number of Latrines: 2
– Number of Flush Toilets: 5
9. Para Bara
– Enrolment: 58 (Male: 27, Female: 31)
– Number of Latrines: 2
– Number of Flush Toilets: 0
10. Konashen
– Enrolment: 87 (Male: 50, Female: 37)
– Number of Latrines: 2
– Number of Flush Toilets: 0
11. Shea
– Enrolment: 89 (Male: 44, Female: 45)
– Number of Latrines: 2
– Number of Flush Toilets: 4
