Students want clean toilets, poll finds

Director-general Dr Narongsak Angkasuwapla said the survey of 418 students aged seven to 19 found that toilets topped the list of school environmental problems they wanted to be improved. That was the priority of 73 per cent of respondents, followed by drinking water.

Most students wanted their dream toilets to be clean, smell-free and beautifully decorated - and preferably with seated flush toilets instead of the traditional squat type.

Some 46 per cent of students said school toilets were dirty, 40 per cent said there were insufficient toilets and 14 per cent said the toilets were not safe.

In the past academic year, 67 per cent had held their bladders because there were not enough toilets, they did not want to use dirty toilets, or the toilets had no water.

"The consequence of avoiding school toilets and waiting to get home is that many students suffer cystitis, especially girls, whose urinary tracks are shorter than boys' and thus prone to infection," Narongsak added.

Following a good response to its campaign for clean and safe toilets in restaurants and gas stations, the department will focus on a campaign for clean toilets at schools and national parks, he said.

He urged local administration organisations and wealthy people to support the campaign.