Recently in one of the events, our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mentioned that cleaning toilets should not be viewed as a degrading task and believed that getting students to do it would help instil positive values in them.
Prior to his statement, many parents shared their opinions on social media with many leaving positive responses in a question-and-answer session conducted by the New Straits Times via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. On Twitter, 82.5 percent of 291 respondents supported the notion and 17.5 percent of them were against it, while 64 percent of nstonline’s Instagram visitors agreed with it1.
One of the parents commented: “I strictly say no. Nowadays, kids get infections easily and you can’t clean without chemicals. And it would definitely affect their health.”
While another parent was totally fine with the idea by saying, “Back in my school days in KL, each class needed to do rounds around the school to collect rubbish after recess and clean the classroom. So, I don’t mind my children being asked to clean anything at school.”
Educating our children on hygiene from young is essential. But the question is should parents allow their children to clean toilets in schools? By doing so, can humility be nurtured? Will cleaning toilets help in their upbringing?
We interviewed four parents, and here’s what they have to say.
Emilio Vergara, (father to a 3-year-old girl)
Cleaning toilets might just have some real value to school kids if the whole idea is carried out correctly. Firstly, health. Of course, we all want our kids to be safe and healthy. So, proper gear and tools should be provided to ensure health and hygiene
Next, should it be compulsory? No, I don’t think so. Maybe we could have a roster where the kids take turns, but only if they’re cool with it. And if we, as parents, aren’t on board, our kids should be allowed to sit this one out.
And before anyone jumps the gun, this isn’t about punishing the troublemakers by making them scrub toilets. That’s not the point. The aim here is to teach all our kids a thing or two about respecting work, whatever the job might be.
At the end of the day, having our kids help clean toilets could be a pretty good lesson. They’ll understand first-hand why it’s important to not take things for granted. Plus, it’ll help them realise that the folks who do this job every day deserve our respect.
“Having our kids help clean toilets could be a pretty good lesson. It’ll help them realise that the folks who do this job every day deserve our respect.”
So, while it sounds a bit off the wall at first, having our kids clean the school toilets could actually be a cool way to teach them about responsibility, respect, and empathy. Sometimes, life’s best lessons are learned in the most unexpected places.
Florence Dairiam, (mother to 3 tertiary-level children)
“Cleanliness is next to Godliness” is a wise saying that stresses the importance of personal hygiene. Personal hygiene alone doesn’t determine the health of an individual. The surrounding needs to be clean as well and there’s a need for society to instill this among children. Cleaning the toilet at school may sound disgusting but we need to educate our younger generation to be aware of their responsibility in maintaining the cleanliness of the toilet.
“As a parent, I’m not against it but the school authorities need to focus on the methods of implementation.”
As a parent, I’m not against it but the school authorities need to focus on the methods of implementation. A proper and organised implementation will definitely help the students keep their school toilets clean. This can become a horrible nightmare if students are not taught on how to wash the toilet. They should be taught to use the toilet properly. In a way, it will trigger a sense of ultimate responsibility in each student.
Meanwhile, the school authorities must ensure a good supply of fresh water to enable students to clean themselves. A proper toilet along with good toilet cleaning equipment will further determine the maintenance and cleanliness of the toilet. Besides this, parents and teachers also play an important role in addressing the issue in a positive manner. They should never implement it as a punishment but as a method to instill responsibility. Students may disagree but teachers together with parents can change students’ perspectives.
Cleaning the school toilet may seem to be disgusting and degrading because society has been taught to look into this task in a negative manner. Therefore, it is not difficult to change the mindset to be more practical and responsible. Let’s teach our younger generation to be more responsible with good virtues.
Priscilla Steven, (mother to an 18-year-old boy)
Cleanliness is said to begin at home. But how many homes practise cleanliness? This is reflected in how individuals use public toilets and how many people treat the dustbin as a place to throw rubbish properly. Isn’t that a reflection of our values?
Does cleaning toilets in schools help mould one’s character? How true is this, especially if one had not learned to live those good values at home? Children from better family backgrounds surely carry themselves differently.
It is ignorance that we need to be concerned about. Many have the thought that someone else is going to do the cleaning job for them, hence they don’t even bother to flush the toilets and pour water after their ‘business’. Some schools don’t even have good water pressure or well-maintained facilities. Will our children end up taking turns cleaning these messes and lose their focus on their studies? Imagine having to wash the toilet and get back to class to study.
“It is ignorance that we need to be concerned about. Many have the thought that someone else is going to do the cleaning job for them, hence they don’t even bother to flush the toilets and pour water after their ‘business’.”
It is totally acceptable if students are trained to clean their own mess after each time they use the toilets. If it was a turn-taking cleaning schedule, I am sure in the name of ‘fun’ some will take advantage of their friends. At the same time, we are currently in a phase where diseases are spreading like wildfire. Is it right to ask our children to clean up and get into hygienic matters?
Maybe it is a good start to always remind one to just clean the toilet space after their use, regardless of age. Flush the toilets properly, pour water where needed too, and throw those tissues into the bins. If these are done rightfully, we won’t even need to worry about cleanliness as all public toilets, be it schools or public spaces, will be welcoming and our children will definitely learn from us.
Daphne Forbes, (mother to a 2-year-old girl)
I personally don’t think that children should clean the school toilets, it’s something maybe they can do in their own homes. I feel that better designs of school toilets can also help prevent the problems that the school toilets are facing. Simple things like stronger toilets or no plastic lids, spring-loaded toilet seats, built-in bidets instead of hoses, direct plumbing to flush, bigger drainage holes, better lighting, or even slightly angled floors can make a world of difference in making toilets require less maintenance and easier to clean.
“I personally don’t think that children should clean the school toilets, it’s something maybe they can do in their own homes.”
As parents, I believe that we will always ensure to teach our children to have a sustainable hygiene culture. The teachers as well I believe can play a role in this by teaching students to be more attentive to cleanliness. That will have a positive impact on students.
A Simple Solution That Can Have a Significant Impact
Well, let’s not take toilets for granted. It has its role in creating safe and healthy school environments where children can focus on learning. But whether or not the children should do it is the question.
Some parents may agree, while some may not. Whatever it is, I agree on one thing – a lack of interest in cleaning shared toilets poses a barrier to a general feeling of lack of ownership for shared toilets among the children. It poses health and environmental problems too.
Perhaps the government should study its pros and cons to bring some simple solutions for a significant impact in schools. Nevertheless, keeping toilets clean is everyone’s responsibility by nurturing this hygienic value from young.
1. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/916576/nst-poll-getting-students-clean-school-toilets-teaches-them-about
