Interventions for monastic schools in Myanmar (WASH)

Burnet partnered with the Monastic Education Development Group (MEDG) to build the capacity of the monastic school system in Myanmar to provide quality education and promote safe, healthy and child-friendly school environments. A key component of the program focused on providing effective and equitable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs and facilities within a targeted number of schools.

Objectives

By addressing water, sanitation and hygiene, it is hoped that the burden of disease transmitted by the faecal-oral route (notably, diarrhoea) is reduced. Childhood diarrhoea is associated with significant morbidity (such as malnutrition, respiratory infection) and mortality. Poor sanitation can also contribute to school absences, especially among girls, and reduced learning outcomes.

More than 300,000 children attend monastic schools which generally charge no fees and cater for some of the poorest children from very remote and marginalised populations.

Timeline

2013–2014.

Approach

Burnet conducted a large baseline study of over 120 monastic schools as part of the initial needs analysis.

Monitoring and evaluation data was also used to explore in more depth what WASH approaches work well, and in which settings, and to describe important non-health impacts of WASH.

Community impact

By addressing water, sanitation and hygiene, it is hoped that the burden of disease transmitted by the faecal-oral route (notably, diarrhoea) is reduced. Childhood diarrhoea is associated with significant morbidity (e.g. malnutrition, respiratory infection) and mortality. Poor sanitation can also contribute to school absences, especially among girls, and reduced learning outcomes.