Factors Affecting The Implementation Of Water And Sanitation Projects In Primary Schools In Zomba Rural

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the factors affecting the implementation of WASH projects in primary schools in Zomba Rural. The specific objectives of the study were to: critically analyse factors that enhance the implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene projects in primary schools in Zomba Rural; examine the challenges facing the implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene projects in primary schools in Zomba Rural and; propose the possible solutions for dealing with the challenges affecting the implementation of WASH projects in primary schools in Zomba Rural. The study adopted an inductive approach since it involved theory development using interpretivism philosophy. Data collection was done using mixed methods, for instance qualitative and quantitative techniques were adopted. Focus group discussions were conducted to learners and school management committees while in-depth interviews and questionnaires were conducted to sanitation teachers and officials from implementing agencies, respectively. The variables were subjected to principal component analysis with varimax rotation. The results revealed that the involvement of school management committees, child-friendly designs, commitment and support by leaders at different levels, and availability of strong development policies and implementation plans, were major contributing factors for the successful implementation of WASH projects in primary schools in Zomba Rural. The same study revealed that financial resource constraints, poor learners’ hygiene practices, lack of operation and maintenance mechanisms and poor supervision of the latrines were major challenges facing the implementation of WASH projects. It is thus recommended that the District Education Management Unit should include, in their budget, funds for the operation and maintenance of WASH facilities. In addition, implementers of WASH projects should provide trainings to learners in behaviour change intervention to curb the learners’ poor sanitation and hygiene practices so as to sustain proper hygiene behaviours. Further research aimed at examining causal relationships between the identified factors and the success or failure of the WASH project is also recommended.