Dhaka Launches 'Clean School Team' Pilot in 21 Schools on Japan's O-Soji Model

A pilot project of the 'Clean School Team' has been launched in Dhaka to ensure school cleanliness in the light of Japan's 'O-Soji' philosophy, build a sense of responsibility and dignity of labour among students, and raise awareness for dengue prevention. Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam took the initiative.

Initially, 21 schools in Dhaka have been selected for the programme. The school cleanliness initiative under this model is being carried out with the members of the 'Clean School Teams' formed in schools for dengue prevention.

The information was given at the inauguration of the pilot project at 11am on Wednesday (28 October) in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner's office. Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman Mia inaugurated the initiative as chief guest.

Under the programme, plans have been made for 15 to 20 minutes of cleaning activity every day, a weekly dengue risk inspection, waste separation, and home-based cleanliness practice for students.

The programme, initiated by Dhaka Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Farida Khanam, aims not only to keep schools clean but also to build lasting habits of cleanliness, responsibility, dignity of labour and environmental awareness among students. Through the activity, the message of cleanliness is planned to spread from schools to families and from families to society.

Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam said cleanliness is not only about keeping a school clean, it is an important lesson in building responsibility, dignity of labour and a caring attitude towards the environment among students. She said today's clean school is the foundation for creating conscious and responsible citizens of tomorrow.

Under the school routine, cleaning activities will be carried out for 15 to 20 minutes every day. Students will be divided into small groups and given responsibility for cleaning safe places such as classrooms, corridors and libraries. Teachers will supervise, and designated staff will clean toilets, dirty drains and risky places.

Divisional Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman Mia said the O-Soji model is not only a cleaning activity, it is an effective initiative to build cleanliness, discipline and responsibility among students. He said if students build the habit of keeping their own school clean themselves, it will also have a positive effect on their families and society. He spoke of ensuring a clean and healthy learning environment by implementing the model in every educational institution, and noted that combined participation of teachers, students, guardians and all concerned is essential.

For dengue prevention, a dengue risk inspection will be carried out at least one day every week in schools. Places where water collects will be identified, water containers will be covered, and steps will be taken to remove Aedes mosquito breeding grounds. Risky places and progress in solving problems will be recorded in a checklist.

In addition, under the 'My Home, My Responsibility' programme, students will be given a weekly cleanliness checklist. It will include keeping the home tidy, disposing of waste properly, and not allowing water to collect around the home. Teachers will evaluate the checklist every Sunday.

Arrangements will be made in schools to dispose of biodegradable, recyclable and other waste separately. Alongside using dustbins, students will also be given an idea of making organic fertiliser from biodegradable waste.

School activities will be evaluated on the basis of cleanliness, dengue prevention, waste management and student participation. There is a proposal to reward the best schools, classes and students with certificates, books, educational materials or tree saplings.

Earlier, on 8 July, the Dhaka district administration formed 'Clean School Teams' in all educational institutions in the capital to build cleaning habits among students and prevent dengue. After the teams were formed, about three months of research, review of school activities and consideration of cleaning programmes in different countries were used to determine an implementation method modelled on the Japanese school cleaning model O-Soji, suitable for Bangladesh, the inauguration was told.