UNICEF Makes SMPN 9 Banda Aceh a Model School for WASH Programme

UNICEF Indonesia has designated SMP Negeri 9 Banda Aceh as a model school for the implementation of a safe, climate-resilient, and inclusive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programme for Aceh. WASH Specialist for UNICEF Indonesia, Muhammad Zainal, stated in Banda Aceh on Wednesday that the programme is a collaboration between UNICEF Indonesia, the Aceh Green Foundation, the Banda Aceh City Government, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, and Wings Group Indonesia. He explained that the facilities built at SMPN 9 are not intended to reach many schools directly, but rather to serve as a model that the government can replicate in other schools. Zainal noted that maintenance is a key challenge in managing school WASH facilities, so UNICEF has trained a team to calculate operational and maintenance costs, including through the use of school operational assistance funds (BOS). Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal said the programme provides improved sanitation facilities, such as disability-friendly toilets, female-only toilets equipped with hygiene support tools, and a ready-to-drink water supply through a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water installation. She added that students only need to bring bottles from home to refill, which supports clean and healthy living habits while reducing the use of single-use drinking bottles. The Head of SMPN 9 Banda Aceh, Nurdin, said the new toilets and RO water system greatly benefit the school community, as the ready-to-drink water supply helps students access safe drinking water without having to purchase bottled water. He added that the school has prepared a special team to manage and maintain the RO facility to ensure its long-term use.