Bangladesh is working toward ensuring separate WASH facilities for girls at academic institutions across the country by 2026 to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officials said.
WASH stands for "water, sanitation and hygiene" and the SDG-6 focus on the access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030.
While the SGD-4 targets ensuring that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education during this time.
"It will take another 5 to 7 years to ensure female WASH facilities at all academic institutions across Bangladesh," said Sohorab Hossain, senior of Secretary of the education ministry's Secondary and Higher Education Division.
Hossain said currently, a new building at an institution is constructed with separate WASH blocks for girls.
"Female WASH blocks are being added to the old structures, if possible," he added.
The government has already started setting up the WASH facilities for girls at primary schools under the fourth phase of the 'Primary Education Development Programme' (PEDP-4).
"By 2023, all primary schools will have separate WASH facility for girls," Secretary of Primary and Mass Education ministry Akram-Al-Hossain told Bangla Tribune.
Sources at the education ministry said the government has emphasised on inclusive, quality and non-discriminatory education to attain the SDGs by 2030.
But safety to the students and congenial environment at the academic institutions are key factors to ensure quality education. And for that, the government moved to set up female WASH facilities at all institutions, according to the sources.
As per an estimate by UNIFEC, only 22 percent of schools in Bangladesh have separate toilet facilities for girls denying their right to privacy.