Siliguri school sets hygiene benchmark Unicef produces documentary on sanitation, screens it at saarc conference

The building of Muraliganj High School in Siliguri subdivision

MEHEDI HEDAYTULLAH, TT, A lush field in front, a garden at the back, uncluttered classrooms and squeaky clean interiors — a school in Siliguri subdivision has set a new benchmark for government educational institutions.

Muraliganj High School, located close to the border with North Dinajpur district, is being upheld as a model school not only for its appearance, but also for its highest standard of hygiene.

The school has been commended by the Union ministry of drinking water and sanitation for maintenance of health standards.

Not only that. Unicef, in collaboration with the ministry, has produced a documentary on the school and it was screened at a Saarc conference in Nepal on October 24.

On November 13, a team of Unicef and Saarc members visited the school.

Asadur Rehman, a representatives of Unicef, said on Wednesday: “The manner in which sanitation and hygiene is maintained has become a model for the entire country. The Union ministry of water and sanitation, along with Unicef, prepared the documentary and today, we visited the school to have a first-hand experience. Whatever the school has done in this regard deserves appreciation.”

He said: “Representatives of different countries felt the need to visit the school so they can teach the concept to schools in their countries.”

A school in Madhya Pradesh was also chosen the “topper” along with the Bengal institution for cleanliness.

The mid-day meal is cooked in the school. Pictures by Mehedi Hedaytullah

The mid-day meal is cooked in the school. Pictures by Mehedi Hedaytullah

The honour has been given on the recommendation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The mission, under its Swasthya Vidhan project in collaboration with Unicef, has instructed schools across the country to follow health norms laid out in detail.

On October 19 and 20, a team from Unicef was at the school to shoot the documentary.

“Unicef and the Union ministry of drinking water and sanitation jointly produced the documentary. The students and teachers of the school have followed the Swasthya Vidhan project in detail. We will be proud to screen the documentary in Kathmandu where delegates of all seven Saarc countries will be present. A Saarc delegation is also scheduled to visit the school on November 13 or 14. We are proud of the school and its teachers and students,” Paresh Sarengi, a Unicef official, said during his visit to the school earlier.

He said health guidelines had been sent to all schools by the government so that students could follow them from an early age.

“There are posters and leaflets on the need to wash hands properly and keep toilets clean. Such posters and leaflets are either distributed or stuck on notice boards at other schools, but their message is hardly followed. But Muraliganj High School is an exception,” Sarengi said.

The headmaster of the school, Samsul Haq, said besides cleanliness, the standard of teaching at the school had also improved while the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’s scheme was being implemented.

“We strive to achieve the overall development of the mind and body of our children. We have installed CCTVs in classrooms so that we can monitor both the teachers and the students. We also have a modern kitchen where the mid-day meals are cooked in hygienic conditions. We ensure that hands of the students are washed before they sit down to eat,” the headmaster said.

The CCTV is used to keep track of kitchen hygiene also.

Among the 20-member team from Unicef that visited the school on November 13 were representatives from Kenya, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Bhutan, Indonesia and Nepal.

Bela Moase, a principal advisor to Unicef, said: “We were overwhelmed to see the manner in which the school is maintaining sanitation and hygiene and has imparted the practice among students.”

Hendrik Van Norden, the Unicef representative of Nepal, appreciated the system of cooking. “The entire system of cooking is very hygienic. It was also nice to see that the headmaster is monitoring the entire cooking process through CCTV,” Norden said.

The institution was established in 2000 as a junior high school. In 2006, the first batch of students sat for Madhyamik and it became a higher secondary school in 2010. The school, located in a tea garden belt, has 1,590 boys and girls.

Haq said all students had come to the school for the shooting of the documentary. “They are proud of their school and we have even formed a ‘little ministers’ council’ in which students studying up to Class VIII participate and decide how to keep the school clean.”