Parent fury as school closes toilets to kids: Breach of human rights’ | UK | News
A furious row has broken out after a school was accused of closing toilets for pupils throughout the day, with parents calling it a “violation of human rights”. Knox Academy in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, has temporarily locked a block of public toilets due to vandalism concerns.
But distraught parents claimed their children had seen other toilets closed during the day and that some children had restricted the amount of drinks they had to avoid accidents. East Lothian Council told Express.co.uk that “a small number of individual facilities were out of use due to vandalism” but that there were other toilets available in the area.
But parents’ reaction has been reported as a petition calling for a national response to force the Government to open toilets has garnered 18,000 signatures.
But according to To the East Lothian Courier, Some former school cleaners said toilets were adapted to sickening conditions in order to do their work.
One of them told the newspaper that people would be “horrified” if they saw the facilities in person, adding: “I was shown period items, dirty produce, things strewn everywhere, bathroom bins set on fire, toilets clogged with crisp packets and other filth.
“I agree they shouldn’t be locked, it’s a basic human right to use toilets, but something needs to be done because they can’t be locked but they also can’t be destroyed all the time like that. It’s utterly disgusting.”
Despite the allegedly horrific conditions, concerned parents signed the petition on social media. “There is no need for them to go without water because they cannot fulfill their basic human right to benefit from welfare facilities,” one lady wrote online.
The mother of one affected pupil said: “Apparently it’s mostly girls’ toilets; one of my children never drinks to school for this very reason.”
An East Lothian Council spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “Toilets are available for all pupils at Knox Academy throughout the school day.
“A small number of individual facilities have recently been out of use due to vandalism, necessitating their closure. Parents can contact the school directly with any concerns or comments.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Knox Academy for comment.
