As the latest Annual Review of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales is published, North Wales AM Eleanor Burnham is urging the Education Minister to take immediate action to end the appalling lack of dignity being endured by many children in schools with sub-standard toilet provision.
In some instances, conditions are so bad that children cannot bring themselves to use the school toilets at all and wait until they get home.
Commenting, Eleanor, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children and Young People, said:
“This appalling situation has been going on for far too long. In 2004 the then Children’s Commissioner, Peter Clarke, was highlighting problems with school toilets. His office produced a report, “Lifting the Lid”, which made a number of recommendations for improvements.
“Sadly, very little changed and in 2008 the Children’s Commissioner, school inspectors from Estyn and the Assembly’s Health and Wellbeing Committee were all highly critical of the conditions in some school toilets. Despite the then Education Minister ordering a full review – which it was said at the time the Welsh Assembly Government would oversee and ensure councils made the necessary changes – here we are in 2010 and our children are still waiting for such basics as toilet seats and doors.
“It’s time for this Labour-Plaid Government to finally get to grips with this problem and start taking urgent action.”
