The ministry's Acting Director of Junior High School, I Nyoman Rudi Kurniawan, stated here on Tuesday that the intervention includes updating national policies and standards on sanitation facilities in schools.
"The ministry along with other stakeholders have taken steps to strengthen the development of school sanitation through various interventions," he remarked.
In addition to updating policies, he stated that the government also intervened by increasing the capacity of school principals and teachers, completing basic education data with the school sanitation indicator, and regulating school budget allocation for building sanitation facilities.
The ministry also launched the 2024-2030 School Sanitation Roadmap document that will serve as the foundation for all parties for planning programs towards quality school sanitation by the end of 2030.
According to Kurniawan, the School Sanitation Roadmap is in line with the Healthy School Movement (GSS) that encourages schools to make their students healthy, strong, and smart as well as have a noble character.
The ministry is pushing for building a culture of handwashing with soap as well as ensuring adequate toilets and running water are available in schools.
Furthermore, educational units are being urged to provide education on ways to sort organic and non-organic waste and implement menstrual health and hygiene management, so that female students can go to school comfortably.
The GSS was launched in 2022 in a bid to improve the health of the education unit environment and students.
Five focuses in GSS are physical health, nutrition, immunization, mental health, and environment.
In addition, the roadmap is the government's commitment to realizing a conducive and quality learning environment to support the future of Indonesian children.
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Translator: Astrid H, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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