MP Ana Ribeiro has expressed concern about students at Senior High School (ES) No. 2 in Vila Nova, Baucau district, who are forced to loosen their bowels on farmland ecause of a lack of clean water. 
“The school is next to my house and I observe that it doesn’t have clean water. Consequently, the students have to go to the farms when they want to loosen their bowels,” MP Ribeiro said at National Parliament.
MP Ribeiro said the school has not had clean water since Timor-Leste gained independence.
“Sometimes the shepherds chase (the students) as they loosen their bowels in the farms,” she said.
She urged the Ministry of Education to pump water and build a wall around the school to keep out animals.
Member of Commission F (for education, health, culture, veterans, and gender equity affairs) MP Eladio Faculto, said many unfenced schools faced issues with animals entering school grounds.
“There should be a protection wall so it can protect the school’s facilities from damage,” he said.
He said he was also concerned by the lack of security in some schools and urged the Ministry of Education to look into the issue. In response to this concern, Minister of Education, Bendito Freitas says school directors and teachers should take responsibility for the management of school administration and facility maintenance.
“Any damage in relation to toilets and small damage, I think the directors can fix,” he said.
