A considerable portion of reported and unreported misconduct perpetrated at the school level is related to the restroom area. Some issues, however, go beyond physical hygiene. They tread into the domain of moral hygiene – a grey area students often avoid reporting out of shame, embarrassment or fear of bullying.

The students waiting outside the washrooms knock and kick the door violently, either to tease the occupant out of fun or force him to rush his ease. In doing so, they also cause damage to doors and their fastenings, creating cracks and crevices to be used by Peeping Toms. The bolts and latches are unhinged mala fide. The doors without fastenings are easily pushed by strong and sturdy students to embarrass the weak ones. Such an infrastructure also nurtures voyeurism among students.

In roofless washrooms, the throwing of water and loo pots over the walls is common mischief among students. The walls can be easily climbed over to assault other students, and the perpetrator remains at large to continue such sordid activities. At campuses........

© The Express Tribune