Australia supports to improve water and sanitation facilities in rural schools

The Australian government yesterday announced a Rs 334 million grant to support a new partnership between the Education Ministry and UNICEF to provide Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities to over 250 remote schools.

Schools that do not have access to water, latrines, wash basins and hygiene education will benefit through this project.

"Over 65,000 children will benefit from this funding. It will help improve learning outcomes, and increase attendance and retention rates of children in those schools," Australian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Kathy Klugman said.

"It will especially help support girls' education as their attendance at school is particularly affected by the lack of basic water facilities," Klugman said.

"The financial support will be used to improve the learning environment and quality of education for children in Sri Lanka who do not have access to the facilities they need to learn well," UNICEF Representative for Sri Lanka Reza Hossaini said.

This project will support the government's goal to uplift the WASH facilities in line with national standards for all schools by 2014. Over 3,000 schools have limited or no access to toilets, water and other basic sanitation facilities.