Tip-top condition: SK Padang Temu in Melaka has put the RM70,000 government allocation to good use. — Bernama
MELAKA: The implementation of various initiatives, including a one-time allocation of RM70,000 for the upgrading and maintenance of toilets in schools by the government should not “mark the end” of the cooperation between the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) and school authorities.
SMK Bukit Baru PTA president Datuk Ronald Gan Yong Hoe emphasised that it’s a shared responsibility, urging parents, students, and school authorities to actively contribute to the ongoing maintenance of facilities.
“The government has started the initiative (to upgrade toilets), so school authorities, students and parents must play their roles.
“This is because the government cannot afford to always give allocations and this is where all of us, especially the students, must understand that the toilet facilities is their responsibility,” he told Bernama.
“The PTA takes the initiative to assist the school in sprucing up the toilets. Seeing that this school has many toilets, such initiatives must be ongoing.
“Students must also take care of the toilets as they would their own rooms because to see if a school or its students are good or not, we look at the toilet.
“This process will also indirectly reduce vandalism, which surely will affect school costs,” he said.
Financial burden of maintaining school toilets should not solely rest on the government, according to SK Telok Mas PTA president Muhammad Al Amin Zainol.
“It’s up to us (the PTA) to help the school implement and ensure it continues to function well by carrying out gotong-royong projects, periodical surveillance and instilling a sense of awareness in the students about their role in the maintenance of school toilets,” he said.
As for SK Duyong PTA president, Nur Azan Hassan, he said that besides joint monitoring, active contributions will also help ease the burden of schools in tackling toilet-related issues.
