Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools — Georgian National Guideline

Georgian national public health guideline on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools. Approved by Ministerial Order N01-40/o. Sets minimum WASH infrastructure and practice standards for Georgian educational institutions.

Regulations › Clinical Guidelines

Document type
National Public Health Guideline
Year
2019
Issuing authority
Ministry of Health of Georgia
Developed by
NCDC; UNICEF Georgia; Ministry of Education
Approved by
Ministerial Order N01-40/o
Languages
Georgian (official) — English summary on this page

Schools are high-density settings where inadequate WASH infrastructure directly contributes to disease transmission among children and staff. This guideline sets minimum WASH standards for all Georgian schools — public and private — covering water supply, sanitation, hand hygiene and food safety in school canteens.

Minimum WASH standards for Georgian schools

WASH componentMinimum standard
Water supplySafe drinking water accessible to all students; ≥3 litres per student per day; tested quarterly
Toilets — quantityMinimum 1 toilet per 30 girls; 1 toilet + 1 urinal per 60 boys; separate facilities for staff
Toilets — qualityPrivate, lockable, clean; separate facilities for girls and boys; accessible to students with disabilities
Handwashing facilitiesMinimum 1 handwashing station per 50 students; soap available at all stations; located near toilets and canteen
Menstrual hygiene managementPrivate changing space in girls toilets; disposal bins; water available
Canteen/food preparationSafe water supply; food handlers trained in hygiene; surfaces disinfected daily

Hand hygiene in schools

Recommendation Schools must establish structured hand hygiene promotion programmes. Mandatory hand hygiene moments for students: before eating; after toilet use; after coughing or blowing nose; after outdoor play. Teachers and school nurses are responsible for hand hygiene education and monitoring. School administration must ensure year-round availability of soap at all handwashing stations — the absence of soap is a critical compliance failure.

Georgian original source / ქართული წყარო

WASH in Schools — Georgian Original (gapince.org.ge)

In plain language

This guideline sets minimum water, sanitation and hygiene standards for Georgian schools — drinking water, toilets, hand-washing facilities and hygiene education — to protect children’s health and support learning.

Key actions checklist

  • Safe drinking water available to all pupils
  • Sufficient, separate and accessible toilets
  • Hand-washing stations with soap near toilets and eating areas
  • Regular cleaning and maintenance
  • Hygiene education in the curriculum

International guidance

Questions and answers

Why does WASH in schools matter for health?

Hand-washing and safe sanitation reduce diarrhoeal and respiratory infections and school absence.

Who monitors compliance?

Education and public health authorities; see Law on Public Health.