Before the ministry's toilet maintenance initiative started, complaints about broken water taps, toilets that could not be flushed or toilet doors that could not be closed at the school, with only 82 students, were a normal thing.

 However, the situation changed last November after the repair work on the toilet facilities at the school was completed. It also changed the students’ perception of a toilet.

"A total of eight toilet units were repaired, comprising three toilet units each for use by the female and male students.  while the remaining two toilet units are for preschool students.

According to the school headmistress, Phiong Kuik Fa, the school used to only have squat toilets which were only suitable for students to use.

Now that the school has better toilets, she noticed there was a change in her students’ attitude.

“The change is obvious and noticeable,” she said, adding that she was satisfied with the work of the contractor tasked to do the toilet improvement work.

"They (contractors)  are quick to carry out the work. All squat toilets have been converted to sitting toilets with proper equipment such as bidets, mirrors, well-functioning faucets, and for our pre-school students, we requested smaller size toilet bowls," she told Bernama.

Narrating her students’ reaction after getting better toilet facilities,  Phiong said she once followed a group of her students quietly from behind when they went to the toilet.

“I asked them why they went to the toilet en masse, as fast as lightning they replied spontaneously with a big smile and said 'our toilet is beautiful teacher',” she said.

A teacher at the school, Magdelina Joseph Nyadi recalled the day when an announcement was made during the school assembly that the toilets were ready for use.

“After the assembly, all the students rushed to the toilet,” she said.

With the students still excited to use the upgraded new toilets, Magdelina said the school continuously reminded them of the need to be appreciative of the facilities.

As for SK Ulu Durin Kiba (SKUDK), which is about 42km from Sibu in central Sarawak, the school's new toilet project was completed in November last year.

Its headmaster, Gerard Bugin Legak, in thanking the government for introducing the clean toilet initiative, said the new school toilet has eight cubicles.

 "The old toilet had 10 cubicles each with a floor area of ​​1.2192 metres x 0.9144 metres, compared to eight cubicles we have now with a floor area of ​​2.4384 metres x 0.9144 meters. So, the toilet cubicles are spacious and comfortable to use," he said.

According to him, the school toilet now has two cubicles with sitting toilets, one each for the male and female staff at the school, two cubicles with small-sized sitting toilets, one each for the male and female students, and two cubicles with squat toilets, one each for the male and female students.

Each cubicle is equipped with a spray bidet, a small window to allow air circulation and a small-sized sitting toilet bowl to cater for primary school students, he said, adding that the school toilets also have two sinks with wall mirrors.

SKUDK Senior Assistant ( Internal Curriculum) Unjung Paong said while appreciating the facility, the students are always reminded of their role in keeping the toilet clean and not leaving the task solely to the school cleaners.

-- BERNAMA