ASSESSMENT OF SANITATION FACILITIES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITHIN ILORIN, NIGERIA

Appropriate sanitation in primary schools is fundamental for effective learning and prevention of diseases prone to children. This study was undertaken to assess the state of sanitation facilities in primary schools within Ilorin, North Central Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select primary schools for the survey and 200 schools eventually participated. Data for the study was obtained from physical inspection of sanitation facilities and semi structured questionnaire. The result of the study reveals that 5.5% - 26.5% of the assessed schools have sanitation facilities in adequate quantity, quality or usage; 23% have less number of facilities compared to pupil population, 42% have grossly inadequate facilities, and 12.5% have no sanitation facility. The quality of facilities in 24.5% of the schools is tolerable while the facilities in 57.5 % of the schools are in deplorable condition. Also 26.5% of the schools effectively use the toilets and urinals, 22.5% seldom use them while 38.5% do not use them at all because they are objectionable or risky. Therefore, raising the status of schools lacking behind in quantity, quality or usage of sanitation facilities should be a top priority in order to achieve developmental goals.