MANCHESTER, England, January 29 /PRNewswire/ -- School pupils are shunning school toilets which have become no go areas because they're either closed, dirty or unfit for purpose!
That's according to industry voice, the British Cleaning Council (BCC) which is throwing its weight behind the Bog Standard(i) campaign, which aims to promote better toilets for pupils.
Steve Wright, Chairman of the BCC said: "It's been brought to our attention that clean, safe, equipped and accessible toilets are becoming high on children's wish lists - but many UK schools are failing to provide this. Children are just as entitled as adults to clean toilet facilities - poor hygiene in loos can lead to increased infections such as bacterial diarrhoea and Hepatitis A."
Not just are many school loos unclean, they are closed for long parts of the day, boys and girls are being forced to share facilities with a lack of privacy and many avoid them altogether as they are often a stamping ground for bullies. The result being that some children are developing continence problems from having to avoid an unpleasant experience in school loos, despite the fact that many schools are encouraging drinking of water.
The Bog Standard campaign has the backing of BCC members the British Toilet Association and the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service Providers (ABCD). Both of these associations have hands-on experience of toilet provision and below par standards unfortunately found in many.
The campaign has introduced a school toilet charter and an award scheme to raise standards in school loos.
David Frogett of the ABCD said: "We have had school dinners revolutionised by Jamie Oliver, now it's about time the toilets were sorted out too. We propose that there's a minimum standard of two cleans a day in school loos as although many are closed, some can be open for up to 16 hours a day and one clean is insufficient to maintain healthy standards."
(i) The Bog Standard campaign is organised by the charity ERIC - Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence.
Notes to Editors
The BCC has been in existence for 25 years and is made up of 19 associations of training institutions and trade associations from carpet cleaners and housekeepers to contract cleaners and waste managers.
The Bog Standard campaign aims to raise standards of provision and access to toilet facilities in all UK schools. More information can be found at:
For further information: Please contact Eibhlin O'Somachain, British Cleaning Council, on +44(0)161-4068197 or +44(0)7779-341565. Please note we have ISDN facilities available for radio interviews. For more on British Cleaning Council see http://www.britishcleaningcouncil.org
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