Paulina Quintao – Research by the National University of Timor Lorosa'e's (UNTL) gender studies unit has shown that many female students are shunning school because of a lack of toilet facilities.

Gender studies centre general director Gil da Costa said the research was conducted in Dili universities and secondary schools to determine why girls were less likely to attend school.

"We call on the Ministry and the National Development Agency (ADN) to build toilet facilities because this is an issue which deeply affects the female students," he said.

He said school designs approved by the education ministry and ADN were for classrooms only and did not include toilets or clean water facilities. Some girls dropped out of school altogether as a result, he said.

Member of Parliament Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares expressed concern and that access to toilets in schools was lacking in both rural and urban areas. Some schools had only one, non-locking unisex toilet which girls avoided using as well, she said.

"The government should look into this issue," she said. "The boys are able to find another place to urinate but it's more difficult for girls and they often go home or to other places near the school."

Secretary of State for Promotion Equality Idelta Maria Rodrigues acknowledged that the education sector faced a variety of problems including a lack of chairs, teachers and libraries as well as long commutes for students.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/gender/13024-girls-drop-out-of-school-because-of-lack-of-loos