Bulawayo’s Water Crisis: Girls and Learners with Disabilities Disproportionately Affected
Princess Tshuma
Water scarcity in Bulawayo is adversely affecting learners, leading to disruptions in class schedules, increased absenteeism, a decline in hygiene standards, and compromised well-being among students, disproportionately impacting girls and learners with disabilities, a study by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has revealed.
The study titled “A Synopsis of the Persistent Water Challenges and Coping Strategies Implemented to Avert Crisis: A Case Study of Selected Schools in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe” examines the various ways the current water crisis in Bulawayo impacts learners, including its effects on their physical health, school attendance rates, academic performance, and psychological well-being.
A total of eleven schools were purposely selected based on location, grading, and operator, whether council, government, or private, for comparative analysis, to come up with a generalized outcome.
Dr. Keith Phiri, a lecturer at Lupane State University (LSU) and the lead researcher, presented the findings during a Water Indaba hosted by BPRA on Thursday, highlighting a worrisome decline in hygiene standards.
“The overall hygiene standards in schools have decreased, with inadequate ablution facilities and instances where learners are embarrassed by having to be sent home for clean-up after accidents. Some schools have resorted to locking or restricting access to certain toilets” he stated.
The water crisis disproportionately impacts girls and learners with disabilities, with girls experiencing a double burden.
“The situation is worse for female learners as their sanitation and hygiene standards are further compromised since the school does not have washing facilities. When learners spoil or mess themselves up, they are sent home to be cleaned up, which is embarrassing for them.”
“Most schools do not have disability-friendly wash infrastructure. Learners with disabilities have to rely on assistance from fellow learners and staff. As a result, the challenges for learners with disabilities are much heavier, as they cannot even use the ablution facilities with dignity and privacy as they require assistance,” notes the report.
The water scarcity also results in disruptions to school schedules.
“Lessons are disturbed because learners will be late for class searching or queuing for water, and the school sometimes dismisses earlier than normal because of the shortage of water. Learners are experiencing a decline in confidence levels as they have had to compromise on their hygiene, even at home. This is evident from the lack of cleanliness amongst learners, as more are coming with unwashed uniforms,” says the report.
Furthermore, dehydration is a growing concern. 84% of schools are observing an increase in the number of cases of headaches due to the dislike of borehole water, limiting water intake among learners. The report also found fatigue and diminished concentration, especially among learners from child-headed households, who often bear the burden of fetching water for their families.
The findings emphasize the urgent need to address water scarcity in Bulawayo to ensure a conducive learning environment and well-being for all learners.