Tunis: The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (French: FTDES) urged the State to speed up school infrastructure rehabilitation and secure continuous drinking water supply. In a report entitled "Fallouts from the Absence of Environmental Justice and the Impact of Climate Change on Other Rights" released on April 18, the FTDES environment and climate justice department shed light on inequalities in public schools across regions. The absence of basic equipment, mainly in the west central areas. was also highlighted. Most schools in these regions have no drinking water and sanitary facilities. This would severely affect the academic success of children and their mental and physical health as well as their right to decent life. There were 128 primary schools with no sanitary facilities in 2022-2023, including 74 schools in west central areas (Kairouan, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid), that is 58%, the report said. Meanwhile, primary schools in the north and the Sahel regions report coverage rates of 90% to 1 00 %. Pupils in a number of schools where there is hardly any access to water are confronted with such diseases as respiratory illnesses and Shigella, an intestinal infection caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella and spread by unwashed hands. It is imperative to make sanitary facilities available in all schools "without exception," and take additional measures, including setting up infirmaries in schools where water shortage related illnesses spread. // Schools seen as insecure environment// While denouncing socio-environmental justice endured by pupils, the forum was critical of the "State which abandonned its responsibilities in rural and marginalised areas" and said it is regrettable that schools deviated from initial mission as " a space for learning, education, acquisition of knowledge and skills and building the next generation." The forum also called on the State to engage fully in efforts to create green spaces in courtyards of public schools and keep them clean, in collaboration with school staff and pupils. This needs to be prioritised in poor and marginalised urban areas as well as in rural areas. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
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