27 August 2018: The World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have published results of a study by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools. The report titled, ‘Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools: 2018 Global Baseline Report,’ highlights the importance of WASH facilities in promoting school attendance and providing a healthy learning environment.

Launched during World Water Week 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden, the publication gives a snapshot of progress with regard to SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), drawing on data from 152 countries. The study shows that more than 30% of schools do not provide safe drinking water, one-third of schools do not provide any toilet facilities, and 900 million schoolchildren have no handwashing facilities.

Girls are more likely to attend school regularly when WASH facilities allow for menstrual hygiene.

The report finds that WASH coverage is higher in secondary schools than primary schools, and higher in urban schools than in rural schools, posing a challenge for achieving SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). Girls are more likely to attend school regularly when WASH facilities allow for menstrual hygiene.

The UN agencies have also developed core questions for countries to use in their own national surveys of WASH facilities in schools and healthcare facilities. These will produce data that are comparable across different countries, which is currently a challenge for SDG monitoring. [Publication: Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools: Global Baseline Report] [UNICEF Report Summary Web Page] [UN Press Release]