According to her, in a number of schools, toilets are located outside and are in extremely unsatisfactory condition.
“Children are forced to go outside to use the toilet and also face the lack of an opportunity to wash their hands: many schools do not have sinks, and even if they do, hot water is unavailable. When will we solve these problems? Before launching large-scale reforms, we need to create normal physical conditions. This will help children better prepare psychologically. If basic conditions for toilets and handwashing are absent, how can we implement reforms to reach the level of advanced countries?” she posed a rhetorical question.
In response, Bishkek's Deputy Mayor Viktoria Mozgacheva stated that all schools in the capital have indoor toilets.
“We carry out repairs annually if necessary. As part of the ADB, several educational institutions joined Bishkek where toilets are located outside, but this year we will complete work to improve their condition,” she added.
The deputy also requested information from Deputy Minister of Education Nadira Jusupbekova regarding the situation in the regions, inquiring how many schools have toilets inside buildings and how many have them outside. The deputy minister promised to provide the data in writing.
The deputy concluded that reforms in the school system should begin with improving infrastructure.
