Sanitation crisis for pupils

 Lilongwe’s sanitation crisis in primary schools

By Kondwani Nyondo 

each morning, pupils at Ngwenya, Kaufulu, Biwi and Kaliyeka primary schools arrive in neat uniforms and bright smiles. But behind the walls, a silent crisis brews: broken latrines, no water, and foul-smelling pits that threaten children’s health and dignity.

National data show that only 4,412 of Malawi’s 7,117 primary schools have change rooms for girls  leaving nearly a third without private spaces for menstrual management. Across the country, less than half of the population uses safely managed sanitation, and schools mirror that failure.

In Lilongwe, many toilets are full or roofless, taps are dry, and soap is scarce. Pupils cope by waiting until they get home or relieving themselves in the open. These conditions fuel absenteeism and expose children to diarrhoeal and cholera outbreaks.

Girls suffer most. Without private, clean, and lockable toilets, many skip class during menstruation. Teachers report attendance drops every month among older girls. 

Experts say improved school sanitation directly boosts girls’ retention and academic performance.

Responsibility for school WASH lies with education authorities, district councils, and NGOs. Yet limited budgets, poor maintenance, and weak accountability leave many facilities unusable within months of construction. District officials admit they lack funds to repair damaged toilets or restore water points.

Simple solutions exist: small maintenance grants for each school, community hygiene clubs, and district audits to map urgent repairs. But progress requires political will and consistent funding.

A school should teach reading and writing  and provide a safe place to use the toilet. Until that becomes reality, Lilongwe’s children will keep paying the price in illness, lost learning, and indignity.