In Eldoret, a 2008 ‘routine’ assessment of 42 public and 94 private primary schools by the municipal education department identified the lack of school sanitation and hygiene as one of the key issues affecting school performance of 47,000 enrolled pupils.

The municipal education and public health departments, the water and sanitation company (ELDOWAS), Uasin Gishu District Environment (NEMA) office and members (including NGOs and PSOs) of the Eldoret ‘Green Town’ Initiative hosted a stakeholder meeting. The purpose was to assist 30 participating public schools in leading the development of WaSH improvement plans.

As well as focusing on water and sanitation facilities, training events targeting SMC, pupils and parents address the contributing factors to behavioural change. These include hygiene education (content and approaches), hygiene practices, greater appreciation of sanitation facilities (environments conducive to proper usage) and linking hygiene practices in pupils’ homes to the community at large.

To monitor performance and provide an incentive to participating schools, the scope of the school environment competition (for the best performing schools) has been widened to include:

• water: quantity, quality, distance to source, conservation, utilisation and maintenance;
• sanitation: gender-specific pupil/toilet ratio, minimum design standards, cleanliness and innovation; and
• hygiene: hand washing and disposal of sanitary towels