Ministry of Education and Splash International Joins Forces to Improve schools Hygiene for 700, 000 Children 

By Daily News Reporter 

In many schools across Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe, the simple act of turning on a tap for clean water has not always been guaranteed. For thousands of pupils, inadequate sanitation facilities and limited access to safe drinking water have long posed silent barriers to health, dignity and effective learning.

The Zambian Government, through the Ministry of Education, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Splash International — a partnership that promises to reshape water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in public schools and benefit more than 700,000 pupils.

The agreement was signed by Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Kelvin Mambwe stated that this signals a strong commitment to ensuring that children learn in safe, healthy and dignified environments.

For many education stakeholders, access to clean water and proper sanitation is not simply about infrastructure. It is about creating the conditions necessary for children to thrive.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Mambwe emphasized that schools must be places where learners feel secure and supported.

“Safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene facilities in schools are fundamental to health, dignity and effective learning,” he said.

In a country where the Free Education Policy has significantly increased enrolment, the demand for improved school infrastructure has grown. Classrooms are fuller, and the need for reliable WASH facilities has become more urgent.

Without proper sanitation, absenteeism rises — particularly among girls — and preventable illnesses can spread quickly in crowded school settings. The partnership with Splash International directly addresses these challenges.

Beyond providing safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities, the initiative is designed with sustainability at its core.

Splash International will work closely with government institutions to develop climate-resilient infrastructure by ensuring that schools remain equipped even amid changing weather patterns and water supply challenges.

The partnership also focuses on building national and sub-national capacity, empowering local authorities and school administrators to manage and maintain systems effectively. 

Crucially, the agreement emphasizes ensuring that improvements are not temporary interventions but long-term solutions embedded within Zambia’s national development framework.

Mr. Eric Stowe praised the Government’s leadership and policy direction and also expressed delight at the collaboration, commending Zambia’s strong agenda on free education and its commitment to creating supportive learning environments for all children.

“This partnership reflects a shared vision,” Mr. Stowe noted, highlighting the importance of sustainable systems that serve children not just today, but for generations to come.

The impact of the initiative is expected to extend beyond school grounds. Improved hygiene facilities contribute to better health outcomes, reduced absenteeism, and improved academic performance.

When children have access to clean water, they are less vulnerable to waterborne diseases. When sanitation facilities are safe and dignified, particularly for adolescent girls, retention and participation improve significantly.

For the pupils in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe, this MoU represents more than a formal agreement between institutions. It represents the promise of cleaner classrooms, healthier days, and uninterrupted learning.

As Zambia continues to strengthen its education sector under its national development agenda, partnerships such as this demonstrate how collaboration between government and development partners can deliver tangible results.

And in schools where a simple glass of clean water can make the difference between illness and opportunity, that transformation begins with turning on the tap.

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