[[Image:escuela logo.png|right|150px|link=http://washenescuela.org/index.php]]
The health and well-being of pupils and staff in schools will be greatly enhanced if there are enough clean water and sanitation facilities and everyone adopts the practice of handwashing with soap. Some benefits will be gained from improving one or other of these but not as much as if all three are improved. So it is important that you carry out an assessment of all three – water, sanitation and handwashing with soap – to decide which needs to be improved the most.
===Sanitation assessment===
[[Image:wash-escuela3.png|thumb|right|200px|Drawing: [http://washenescuela.org/ washenescuela.org]WEDC, Loughborough University]]
Assessment of sanitation facilities is based on three criteria: quantity, quality and usage. Only by considering all three will you be able to accurately assess the current situation.
* '''Usage''' refers to the suitability of the facilities for the people who use them. A school may have many latrines and they may be well constructed and in good condition but they will not be used if they are located in the wrong place or not designed to account for local customs and cultural sensitivities.
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|<font size="3">[http://www.washenescuela.org/phocadownload/monitoreo-y-evaluacion/5-sanitation-in-africa/5-tools-for-sanitation-assessment.pdf Start the Sanitation Assessment on washenescuela.org]</font>
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===Water supply assessment===
[[Image:wash-escuela2.png|thumb|right|200px|Drawing: [http://www.washenescuela.org/ washenescuela.org]WEDC, Loughborough University]]
====Assessment criteria====
As with the assessment of sanitation facilities, assessment of a school’s water supply is also based on three criteria, this time: quantity, quality and convenience. Again, only by considering all three will you be able to assess the current situation accurately.
* '''Convenience''' relates to how easy it is for children and staff to reach the water point and use it in the correct way. This includes the distance to the water source and the design of the water collection point.
{| style="border: 1px solid #DB87C9; background-color: #EDEDED;"
|<font size="3">[http://www.washenescuela.org/phocadownload/monitoreo-y-evaluacion/5-sanitation-in-africa/5-tools-for-sanitation-assessment.pdf Start the Water Supply Assessment on washenescuela.org]</font>
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===Handwashing assessment===
[[Image:wash-escuela.png|thumb|right|200px|Drawing: [http://washenescuela.org/ washenescuela.org]WEDC, Loughborough University]]
====Assessment criteria====
An assessment of children’s knowledge and practice of handwashing with soap is an indicator of the overall standard of hygiene in the school, but it may not reflect the overall standard of health as problems may be caused by inadequate sanitation facilities or a lack of a safe water supply. The results of an assessment of handwashing therefore, will normally need to be considered alongside the sanitation and water supply assessments.
{| style="border==WASH in Schools links===* [http: 1px solid #DB87C9; background//www.academia.edu/5044042/ASSESSMENT_OF_WATER_SANITATION_AND_HYGIENE_WASH_IN_MALAWI_PRIMARY_SCHOOLS ASSESSMENT OF WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) IN MALAWI PRIMARY SCHOOLS.]* [http://www.unicef.org/wash/schools/files/Sierra_Leone_MHM_Booklet_DM_15_Nov_1020_single-colorSierra_Leone.pdf WASH in Schools Empowers Girls’ Education in Freetown, Sierra Leone: #EDEDED;"An Assessment of Menstrual Hygiene Management in Schools]|<font size="3">* [http://www.washenescuelaunicef.org/phocadownloadwash/schools/monitoreo-y-evaluacionfiles/5-sanitation-Bolivia_MHM_Booklet_DM_15_Nov_single_0940_Bolivia.pdf WASH in Schools Empowers Girls’ Education in Rural Cochabamba, Bolivia An Assessment of Menstrual Hygiene Management in-africaSchools]* [http://www.unicef.org/wash/schools/files/5Philippines_MHM_Booklet_DM_15__Nov_1010_Single-tools-for-sanitation-assessment_Philippines.pdf Start the Handwashing WASH in Schools Empowers Girls’ Education in Masbate Province and Metro Manila, Philippines An Assessment on washenescuelaof Menstrual Hygiene Management in Schools]* [http://www.sviluppodeipopoli.org/Italiano/NotizieEventi/scrivono/2013/CISP-RIWASHASSESSMENTREPORT.pdf WASH ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR NORTH AND SOUTH LEBANON]<. October 2012.* [http://font>|}www.washinschools.info/page/231 Methods and tools related to WASH in schools assessments.]
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===Acknowledgements===
* [http://wwwwashinschoolsmapping.washenescuela.orgcom/ WASH en EscuelaIn Schools].
