WASH in Schools Learning Brief

Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is essential for children in schools, particularly for girls as well as children with disabilities . Contaminated water, poor sanitation or unhealthy hygiene behaviours increases the risk of contracting diarrhoeal and other WASH related diseases, making it more difficult for children to stay in school and become empowered through education. This is an even greater challenge for girls especially girls who are menstruating as they often face more barriers to enroll, stay in school, learn and perform . When proper sanitation is available , 11% more girls attend school 1 .