Inside the school bathrooms that are so disgusting students are REFUSING to use them
- An inquiry has heard of the deplorable state of toilets at public schools in NSW
- Students are refusing to eat or drink so they don’t have to use the toilet at school
- Inquiry into NSW public school’s heard Concord High School was short of toilets
- A $150,000 grant would cover just four toilets and would take a year to upgrade
Public school toilets across New South Wales are in such a deplorable state that many students are refusing to use them, an inquiry into NSW public school infrastructure has been told.
The Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations highlighted unhinged doors, missing toilet parts, uncleanliness, broken taps and lights, odours emanating from grout and graffiti affecting student toilets at the inquiry on Monday.
P&C vice president Yvonne Hilsz went into further detail on the problems and the health issues it has subsequently caused public school students as a result.
Public school toilets across New South Wales are in such a deplorable state that many students are refusing to use them, an inquiry into NSW public school infrastructure has been told
The Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations highlighted unhinged doors, missing parts for toilets, uncleanliness, broken taps and lights, odours emanating from grout and graffiti as major issues
‘Unclean. Doors unhinged. Vandalism left right through it … Soap dispensers don’t work, they can’t wash their hands,’ she said.
‘You’ve got plumbing issues. Security issues of doors not locking properly. Toilet seats yanked off and not replaced. It is absolutely disgraceful, the toilets our children have to go to the bathroom in.’
Ms Hilsz revealed that several students had developed bladder infections as they refused to use the toilets.
‘We have parents complaining their children have (urinary tract infections), bladder issues, because children refuse to go to the toilet during the day,’ she said.
Ms Hilsz added that other students were going home dehydrated and ill because they refused to drink the water.
P&C Federation says the problems have gotten so bad they’ve had to resort to raising money to try and fix bathrooms at multiple schools themselves as nothing was being done on a government level.
Research conducted by the Federation found that parents in the North Shore and Sydney’s inner west were most concerned by the facilities at their kids’ school.
P&C vice president Yvonne Hilsz revealed that several students had developed bladder infections as they refused to use the toilets at public schools
An inquiry into NSW public school infrastructure heard on Monday that students at Concord High School refuse to eat or drink so they can avoid using the ‘absolutely disgraceful’ toilets (pictured, toilets at Concord High School)
In its submission to the committee, Concord High School Parents and Citizens Association noted their school was short of toilets and demountable bathrooms had been installed, with no plan to replace them.
Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW vice president Yvonne Hilsz (pictured) told the inquiry disgusting toilets, overcrowding, demountable classrooms and a lack of consultation is influencing parents to send their children to private schools
A submission said had a severe shortage of toilets for female students and the ones already at the school were deemed ‘dirty and unsafe’.
It also stated the toilets were so bad many students chose not to eat food or drink water to avoid using them.
Volunteers had managed to secure a $150,000 grant from the government to upgrade bathrooms, and were informed that was enough to upgrade just four toilets, which could take up to a year.
The school has one wheelchair accessible toilet, on the second floor of a building where the lift does not work.
Demountable classrooms were also being used to address overcrowding in growing catchments, encroaching on school ovals and preventing children from exercising, the inquiry heard.
Ms Hilsz said the multiple problems surrounding toilets at public schools has influenced parents to send their children to private schools.