The Madrasah Toilet That Changed How We View Education

“Cleanliness is part of faith.” This saying is often heard. Yet, in daily life, maintaining the cleanliness of public facilities—including toilets—remains a challenge. This was what we encountered during a Community Service (PkM) activity by Telkom University at the Darul Muttaqin Al-Insani Foundation, Bojongsari Village, Bojongsoang District, Bandung Regency, led by Mrs Ida Yunengsih and Mr Tono. This madrasah is not a large school with complete facilities. On the contrary, this community-based educational institution grew from the residents’ spirit of mutual cooperation to provide religious education to more than a hundred students. With limited facilities, classrooms are used alternately for studying, reciting the Quran, and congregational prayers. It is here that the sanitation issue becomes critical. Inadequate toilets not only reduce comfort but also potentially affect health and the solemnity of worship. These conditions formed the basis for the toilet revitalisation programme designed by the Telkom University Community Service team. The problems we found were not merely about dull tiles or fading paint. The toilet door faced directly towards a classroom also used for congregational prayers. Besides causing unpleasant odours, this condition diminished the solemnity during worship activities. Additionally, the storage area was poorly organised, reducing the overall functionality of the space. Therefore, the revitalisation did not only improve the toilet’s appearance but also reorganised the spatial layout to be more comfortable for all madrasah residents. This programme was carried out by lecturers and students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at Telkom University together with foundation administrators, teachers, students, and the surrounding community. Activities began with a field survey, design preparation, fundraising, renovation execution, and sanitation education for the madrasah community. A participatory approach was chosen so that the community would not only be beneficiaries but also participate in maintaining the sustainability of the facilities built. Equally important was the counselling on WASH-based (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) sanitation integrated with Islamic values. The material delivered included the importance of keeping toilets clean, washing hands with soap, conserving water usage, and caring for shared facilities as part of a Muslim’s character. Many people consider toilets merely as supporting facilities. In fact, the toilet is the first place children learn discipline, responsibility, respect for public facilities, and cleanliness. The habits of flushing after use, disposing of rubbish properly, and washing hands are character education that will carry through to adulthood. Therefore, in this activity we also provided educational media in the form of sanitation posters and simple guides so that the culture of clean living continues to be nurtured by all madrasah residents. The most joyful part was not when the renovation was completed. The most memorable moment was seeing students, teachers, university students, and the community gathered in one room with faces full of enthusiasm. They realised that a clean toilet not only makes the environment healthier but also creates a comfortable learning atmosphere and more solemn worship. Toilet revitalisation may seem simple. However, behind the cleaner building lies a significant investment in health, education, and character building for the younger generation. Hopefully, more universities, communities, and society will realise that building education does not always start with sophisticated laboratories or magnificent buildings. Sometimes, big changes actually begin with a clean, proper, and collectively maintained toilet.