Aging toilets leave students struggling at Tay Ninh schools

Aging toilet facilities at numerous schools in Vietnam's southern Tay Ninh Province are significantly impacting the learning environment for students. At Trieu Thi Trinh Primary School, a strong moldy smell pervades the restrooms, and leaks cause students to get wet during class. Toilets built 20 years ago are so dilapidated, with peeling plaster, sunken floors, and holes in the roof, that repairs are struggling to keep pace. The teachers' restrooms are in a similar state of disrepair, with leaking roofs and overgrown weeds. The school, which serves 185 students and 14 staff members, lacks not only toilets but also showers, a kitchen, and staff housing. They rely on well water due to the absence of a piped water supply. Repairs to classrooms and the surrounding fence are also urgently needed. At Hoa Dong Primary School Campus 2 in Phuoc Vinh Commune, toilets over 10 years old are insufficient for over 200 students, leading to long queues during breaks. This campus also requires a kitchen, showers, and renovation of its deteriorating staff housing. The Tay Ninh Department of Education and Training estimates that nearly 40 primary schools in the province need new or repaired sanitation facilities. The Hope Foundation is collaborating with the department to assess school facilities and identify priority areas for improvement. Information Source: VnExpress International