Goal of this report is to provide summary of the formative research conducted by Live & Learn Vanuatu on barriers to WASH habit formation and inclusive WASH in Schools in Vanuatu. The research was commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Training in Vanuatu WASH in Schools Program, supported by UNICEF in Vanuatu. This research was funded by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade
(MFAT) through UNICEF New Zealand and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Training Vanuatu. The research was carried out in Pentecost, where about 20 schools were part of the survey. The research
was initially intended to be carried out in at least 2 islands in Penama Province, but due to the Ambae volcanic response activities in Maewo and Ambae it was only carried out in Pentecost.
The methodology used for data collection was presented to and approved by the Ministry of Education & Training (MoET) WASH in Schools (WinS) Technical Working Group and UNICEF. The WinS Technical Group
include MoET Research Officer, Project Manager, Child Protection Officer, WinS Focal Point, Basic Education Officer, CDU representative and WinS Specialist from UNICEF. Part of this research aimed to find out what bottlenecks existed in access to water and sanitation infrastructure and hygiene behaviours in schools, and how these bottlenecks can be overcome in order to improve health outcomes. Presented here below are the Bottleneck Analysis data collection tools that were presented and approved by the WinS Technical working group:
• Key informant interview with school head teachers or principals;
• WASH infrastructure observation;
• Students structured observation;
• Student KAP survey;
• Students barrier analysis survey;
• Parents and teachers focus group discussion.
Overall, Live & Learn collected data in four (4) districts in Pentecost: North Pentecost, Central Pentecost North (CP1), Central Pentecost South (CP2) and South Pentecost. The Bottleneck Analysis is an adapted
UNICEF tool that measures school WASH services and practices against specific standards. The Vanuatu government does not have formal WASH in Schools standards yet, so standards used in the Bottleneck Analysis were informed by draft Vanuatu government policies for water and sanitation for schools, and primary quality standards for health. The assessment standards should be amended when the MoET formalises the WASH in Schools policy and standards for Vanuatu schools.
Read the research here.