The Water And Sanitation (Wash) Drive In Tanzania: Opportunities And Challenges Head Teachers Face In Rural-Based Schools

Abstract 

This paper is based on a study carried out in three rural-based primary schools in Dodoma, central Tanzania to investigate opportunities and challenges head teachers face during the implementation of school Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) programme. The qualitative study used interviews, focus group discussions, observations and documentary review in a triangulation fashion to collect the requisite information. It established that the WASH programme benefits include construction of hitherto absent standard school toilets and training in sanitation management. The WASH schools also served as role models to other primary schools and the community. On the other hand, the primary schools under study had fewer toilet holes than required, and lacked running water and funds for WASH activities. Also lack of parental awareness of school WASH activities limited their support. As a result, the schools struggled to maintain and sustain the toilets’ cleanness. Thus there is a need revisit the School WASH operational rules.