Dhaka orders all schools to form ‘Clean School Teams’ to strengthen dengue prevention

Schools must boost cleanliness and form monitoring committees to curb dengue

Dhaka district authorities have directed all educational institutions in Dhaka city and the district to strengthen cleanliness activities and form monitoring committees called "Clean School Teams" as part of efforts to prevent dengue.

The committees must be formed and reported to the Deputy Commissioner's Office, according to an order signed by Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom on Jul 5.

Dhaka District Education Officer Shahreen Khan Rupa confirmed the directive to bdnews24.com on Wednesday.

She said the head of each educational institution will serve as the committee's chair.

The committee will also include one parent nominated by the institution head, the sanitation inspector responsible for the relevant ward in city corporation areas or a representative nominated by the Upazila executive officer, two students and a teacher nominated by the institution head, who will serve as member secretary.

The directive instructs schools to ensure personal hygiene among teachers and students, keep classrooms clean under teachers' supervision and regularly remove potential Aedes mosquito breeding sites from school premises and surrounding areas.

These include drains, playgrounds, corridors, vacant spaces and flower pots.

Educational institutions have also been asked to organise awareness meetings and seminars involving students and parents and introduce rewards to encourage cleanliness activities.

The Dhaka district administration said the classroom cleanliness programme is entirely educational and awareness-based.

The order emphasises that students' safety, health and dignity must be ensured throughout the programme.

It also states that under no circumstances should students be assigned hazardous cleaning tasks or asked to remove medical, or unhygienic waste.