THE PLIGHT OF SANITATION MANAGEMENT IN SELECTED BOTSWANA SCHOOLS – A CRITICAL CONCERN

Abstract

One of the major environmental challenges that Botswana faces as identified by the Botswana national Conservation Strategy of 1990 is pollution. While acknowledging the effort and many achievements government has made towards addressing this challenge, serious environmental problems particularly poor waste and sanitation management are now threatening the sustainability of the major settlements, particularly schools where sanitation, specifically toilet sanitation doesn‟t seem to get priority attention in the school environmental sanitation management activities. Drawing on cases studies from three schools in Botswana, focus group discussions with pupils and interviews with teachers and cleaners were conducted to investigate the state of sanitation management and how it is dealt with. Findings indicate that toilet sanitation is neglected as schools are more involved in routine activities which are not action oriented towards creating a sustainable healthy environment in the schools.