BAJHANG, Aug 31: More than 500 students of Durga Higher Secondary School, Sainpasela, Bajhang are compelled to practice open defecation after three toilets in the school could not be brought into use.

The District Education Office (DEO), Bajhang, had constructed three toilets at the school for the use of students. However, the toilets could not be brought into use due to their pathetic condition.

According to Aanjana Japrel, a ninth grader at the school, one of the four toilets in the school is for the use of teachers and is strictly restricted for students. The rest of the toilets are in a very pathetic condition. As a result, the students here are forced to defecate outdoors, Japrel complained, adding, “We (girls) don't come to the school during periods.”

Rabesh Japrel, a grade 10 student of the same school, said, “There is no proper toilet for the students and using the teachers' toilet is punishable.” 

“Whenever we ask the teachers to clean all the toilets, they stop us in the hope that the DEO would bring projects to the school,” added Rabesh.

However, Tilak Dauyal, a teacher of the school said that the students are not forbidden to use the teachers' toilet but they have to queue up as there is only one toilet while the lack of water is another problem.

Padam Raj Joshi, chief of DEO, said that the school had been provided about Rs 1.5 million for the construction and maintenance of toilets.