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Published in
Academic Frontiers
The Impact of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) on Enhancing Basic Education Services and Facilities
Academic Frontiers, 1(2), 1-2, ISSN: 3082-4400, 2025.
Recommended Citation:
REBOSADA, M. T. (2025). The Impact of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) on Enhancing Basic Education Services and Facilities. In Academic Frontiers (Vol. 1, Number 2, pp. 1–2). Lakbay-Diwa Publishing. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15646089
Author(s)
Rebosada, Maria Teresa
Abstract
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs are vital for creating conducive learning environments in schools. In the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) has institutionalized WASH initiatives through DepEd Order No. 10, s. 2016, aiming to reduce absenteeism and enhance health outcomes among students. Despite this policy support, significant gaps remain in both infrastructure and implementation, particularly in rural schools such as Carmen Central Elementary School, which continues to face challenges in providing adequate facilities.
Although global studies have emphasized the importance of WASH (WHO, 2020; UNICEF, 2019), localized evidence on its specific impact on basic education services in Philippine elementary schools remains limited. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the current status of WASH facilities and their influence on educational outcomes in a rural school setting. Specifically, it aims to assess the quality of WASH facilities, explore the correlation between WASH and students’ health and attendance, and identify the roles of various stakeholders in sustaining these programs.
The study hypothesizes that effective WASH programs significantly enhance students’ health, attendance, and academic performance. It is guided by the Comprehensive WASH in Schools Policy (DepEd, 2016) and the WHO Health-Promoting Schools model, both of which highlight the critical connection between adequate WASH infrastructure and positive educational outcomes.
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