Implications of School-Based Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Facilities for Achieving Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ibadan, Nigeria
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Date
2024-12
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Lead City University, Ibadan
Abstract
This study explores the impact of school-based Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ibadan, Nigeria. With a focus on eleven Local Government Areas (LGAs) divided into metropolitan (Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, and Ibadan South) and peri-urban (Ido and Oluyole) regions, a 5% sample rate was applied to a total pupil population of 402,840, yielding a sample size of 965 students, 351 from private schools and 614 from public schools. The research combines survey data and key informant interviews with school administrators, health boards, SUPEB, and the Ministry of Education to assess WASH awareness, access, and facility conditions. The study analyzed WASH facilities' availability, accessibility, and quality in schools, correlating these factors with health outcomes and school attendance. The results reveal significant disparities in WASH infrastructure between private and public schools. Private schools reported higher access to clean water and sanitation, with 98.3% having adequate facilities compared to 88% in public institutions. This gap impacts students’ health and attendance, as private school pupils consistently report better hygiene and lower rates of waterborne diseases. Awareness levels among school administrators also varied; 36.2% of private school heads displayed high awareness of WASH protocols, compared to only 7.9% of public school heads. This gap in awareness affects the prioritization of hygiene practices, as knowledgeable school heads tend to advocate more actively for comprehensive WASH programs. The study further highlights the role of socio-economic and governance factors in WASH practices. Public schools face stricter budgetary constraints and lower stakeholder engagement, with only 23.1% of public school administrators rating support as “Good” versus 48.9% in private schools. These challenges hinder public schools' ability to meet national WASH standards, with consequences for achieving SDGs. Recommendations include enhanced government funding, stronger public-private partnerships, and flexible governance frameworks
to bridge WASH infrastructure and awareness gaps in public schools. By addressing these disparities, the study suggests that Ibadan’s educational institutions can better support SDG goals, improving health, education, and environmental sustainability outcomes for students.
Keywords: School-based, WASH Practices, Sustainable Development Goals, Public health, Ibadan schools
Word Count: 340
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Keywords
School-based, WASH Practices, Sustainable Development Goals, Public health, Ibadan schools
Citation
Kate Turabia