We all have a few stories from our school days in which our bathroom facilities were less than pleasant.

Unhinged doors, missing toilet seats, unflushable toilets, cracked or missing floor tiles, broken dispensers, and odours produced from infrequent cleaning; are just a few examples of what our students face every day.

We’re often quick to dismiss these toilet shenanigans, but a recent report conducted by Unilever (2021), reveals the sinister effects that these circumstances are causing our students:

• 30% reported ‘discomfort’ and ‘finding it hard to concentrate in class’ due to ‘holding it in’ to avoid using school toilets
• 12% said that they deliberately did not eat or drink at school to avoid using the toilet
• One in ten admitted missing school to avoid using toilets.

These alarming statistics depict the distinct relationship between the quality of bathroom facilities and the quality of education.

Although these statistics can make you sweat when we think about the current state of your school’s bathrooms, the good news is that by revamping and upgrading bathrooms to reflect high-quality facilities, schools can improve their students’ attitudes towards their education.

Research shows that even working on cosmetic changes such as colour, removal of graffiti, painting cycle and cleanliness of floors can improve a student’s learning by 5% or more (Fisher, 2001), so imagine the impact a complete bathroom renovation can have!

We understand that navigating a new bathroom renovation for your school can be quite daunting, especially when you have to coordinate the work during the school holidays. However, utilising commercial bathroom specialists like Whiteson Group to project manage and execute the process from concept to completion; is a great, streamlined solution.

Contact us today.



Sources:

• https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED455672.pdf
• https://www.unilever.com.au/news/2021/lets-stop-dirty-school-toilets-from-blocking-childrens-education/#:~:text=30%25%20reported%20’discomfort’%20and,school%20to%20avoid%20using%20toilets.