Operation and Maintenance Plan

An effective O&M plan has the following characteristics:

It is developed and agreed upon before the facilities are completed. During the design phase, school management, teachers, other school staff, parents, and children should be made aware of the maintenance implications of different options, such as the availability and affordability of spare parts and the cleaning supplies and activities required for each possible solution. With this knowledge they are in a position to make a well-informed technology choice.

It clearly defines responsibilities and monitoring. The division of responsibilities among the different project partners should be clear and comprehensive, covering all the necessary activities, such as filling up water containers for hand washing, keeping the surroundings tidy and free of bullying and harassment, purchasing spare parts and supplies, and supervising maintenance activities. The School Hygiene Committee can be responsible for the final coordination. The plan also defines monitoring and reprimands in the event of non-compliance.

It is non-discriminatory. Responsibilities should be shared by all partners and not be determined by gender, position, ethnic group, or social class. For example, in many schools girls are responsible for cleaning the toilets or fetching water, while boys have other or no tasks. Keeping a toilet clean starts during its use and this should be continuously taught to all users. The school is a place for children to learn about teamwork and cooperation among all in a non-discriminatory way.

It is linked to other school improvement efforts. A child-friendly, health-promoting and truly community-based school requires more than clean and well-maintained hygiene, sanitation, and water facilities. The O&M plan for the facilities can be part of an overall plan to improve the conditions of the entire school.

It allows for easy diagnosis and reporting of problems so that problems related to O&M can be discovered before they adversely affect the hygienic situation at the school. It is reviewed periodically and adapted if necessary.