The Education Ministry will start an initiative meant to teach pupils responsibility in keeping toilets clean soon.

This comes after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that school students should be taught to clean toilets to maintain hygiene and build character.

While Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said last night that her ministry would work on implementing Anwar's idea, its statement on Facebook today did not specifically state whether this will be part of the toilet cleanliness initiative it is kicking off soon.

However, it said the inculcating of practices to keep toilets clean will be done through "existing programmes" such as awareness of cleanliness, and advocacy to teach children how to use toilets properly.

"Toilet cleanliness is part of a long-term cleanliness, health and safety programme which aims for toilets at all Education Ministry schools to have a minimum of three stars (in cleanliness) by the end of 2025," it said.

It added that this standard must be achieved by all schools.

Yesterday, the prime minister called for children to be taught to wash toilets to ensure that comfort and hygiene at schools are maintained.

By being trained to do so, Anwar said the students will learn about cleanliness and respecting others, while indirectly understanding and appreciating the housework their mothers do.

The National Parent-Teacher Association has supported the idea, and mooted that students with disciplinary problems be made to take part first.

FMT reported an activist urging the government to provide more funding for schools to keep toilets clean instead.

Cleaning toilets: Schools can start with naughty students first - PTA

Cleaning toilets: Schools can start with naughty students first - PTA

Not wrong to train students to clean school toilets - PM

Not wrong to train students to clean school toilets - PM