ABSTRACT
This paper aims to achieve health and learning outcomes through a sustainable school-based potable water supply and sanitation in Sta. Anastacia Elementary School to prevent diseases and to acquire high learning outcomes of learners. This has been done due to limited number of faucets that hinder the learners to achieve health and positive learning that consequently impede their ability to stay in school and improve their academic performance. In depth interview among learners, teachers and stakeholders and focal group discussion underwent using semi – formative discussion format employing open – ended question about safe potable water facility were conducted in gathering data. Testing/Investigating of water in school was done by MWDO. The researchers come up with a sustainable plan at the end of the investigation to have continuous program in installing drinking facilities through implementing sustainable school – based potable water supply. Promoting the awareness of a safe potable drinking water in school will contribute to the attainment of high academic performance and prevent diseases related to inadequate access of safe water.
Context and Rationale
The provision of water at schools is one of the highly effective practices in increasing access and learning outcomes. Promotion of correct hygiene and sanitation practices among school children and a clean environment in and around school will keep learners safe and healthy and have been associated with improved cognitive abilities. However, there are some instances that hinder to provide an accessible potable water in schools such as the source may need repair, may provide insufficient and unsafe water in an appropriate location. Due to earnest desire to bring out the best in our learners I have come with this action research the “Impact of the Provision of Safe Drinking Water on School Performance in Sta. Anastacia Elementary School”. Our school is the gateway to Batangas. It caters two barangays, namely: Sta. Anastacia and San Rafael. It is also surrounded by different industrial parks that have contributed to the increase number of learners in our school. The school personnel had made efforts to put up safe water facility. However, some development efforts, combined with the rising demands of the ever-increasing population, have caused damage to the water resources. In addition, the insufficient number of water facility that could serve potable water has become a hindrance. I believe that the children will achieve more when their needs and wants are met. Safe water and sanitation is especially linked to young children’s chances to successful school completion and healthy growth.
Access to clean drinking water in schools is vital to increasing consumption since learners spend a large portion of their day at school. Without clean, accessible water, learners become dehydrated. This impairs their ability to learn and to do well in class situations. Facts show when a school lacks clean water, school attendance declines. On the other hand, the school is struggling to make water facilities accessible. The need for potable supply of drinking water associated to hygiene and sanitation challenges the health and learning outcomes among Sta. Anastacia Elementary School learners, teachers and stakeholders. There are 8 faucets in the school that serve 1,475 learners, 44 teachers and stakeholders for water supply. The limited numbers of faucets hinder the learners to achieve health and positive learning due to sickness that consequently impede their ability to stay in school.
Cognizant to DepEd Order 10, 8.2016, which implies policy and guidelines for the comprehensive water sanitation and hygiene in schools, I built this research that could suffice the need for safe drinking water. This is designed to achieve learning and health outcomes and improve school attendance through a comprehensive, sustainable and scalable school- based water hygiene and sanitation.
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