The availability of sanitation facilities in primary schools in Morocco is a critical challenge. According to UNICEF, in 2018, only 76 percent of Moroccan public primary schools had basic sanitation infrastructure. Historical data highlights the severity of this ongoing issue: in 2015, approximately 5,000 schools—two-thirds of the total—did not have toilets. When rural "satellite" schools are included, the picture becomes even more drastic, with UNICEF reporting that the majority of boys and girls attending public rural primary education lack access to basic sanitation.

A school without a toilet is a difficult environment for every single student, regardless of gender. Currently, entire student bodies face the same basic problem: there is no safe or sanitary way to manage their daily needs. This creates a universal health risk. When waste is not managed, germs spread across the school grounds, putting both boys and girls at risk of illnesses like dysentery and typhoid.

Furthermore, this lack of infrastructure disrupts the school day for everyone. Students are often forced to "hold it" for hours, which causes physical pain and makes it nearly impossible to concentrate in class. When the physical need becomes too urgent, students have to leave the school grounds to find a private spot in the fields. This means students are missing class time and losing their focus on learning. It creates a chaotic environment where basic survival takes priority over education.

While the lack of facilities is hard for everyone, it creates specific and significant complications for female students. Girls have specific hygiene needs that require strict privacy and clean water, particularly when they are menstruating. In a school with no toilets, managing this becomes extremely difficult and stressful.

Without a private space, a simple biological process becomes a logistical nightmare. Girls are often forced to stay home simply because the school cannot provide the basic privacy they need to manage their personal care. Additionally, needing to find a secluded spot outside for privacy is often more dangerous and socially difficult for girls than it is for boys. These extra hurdles mean that girls face more interruptions to their learning, not because they don't want to learn, but because the environment does not support their basic needs.

Building proper toilets is a practical solution that benefits the entire school community immediately. It ensures that no student has to choose between their health and their education. By providing clean, private spaces, we eliminate the need for students to leave the school grounds, keeping them safe and present in the classroom.

This investment improves the quality of life for every child. It allows boys and girls alike to focus on their studies without discomfort or embarrassment. For girls specifically, it removes the extra obstacles that make attending school difficult, ensuring they can come to class consistently. Ultimately, a functional toilet block restores dignity to the entire student body and creates a professional, functional atmosphere where education comes first.

The High Atlas Foundation (HAF) is taking direct action to close this gap. We view sanitation not just as a hygiene issue, but as a basic requirement for education. Before the Al Haouz earthquake, HAF successfully built sanitation facilities for 10 schools, improving the daily lives of hundreds of students.

Since the 2023 earthquake, we have expanded this work to additional schools to help the region recover as part of our relief and rebuilding efforts. For us, this is more than just construction; by installing these facilities, we are restoring dignity and health to the communities that need it most.