Often overlooked and rarely recognised, school cleaners are playing a critical role in protecting children’s health – one classroom and one toilet at a time.
Every morning, long before the first school bell rings, thousands of school cleaners across South Africa begin work that most learners, parents and educators rarely notice. Yet their role is one of the most important in creating safe, healthy learning environments.
While conversations around education often focus on teachers, infrastructure and curriculum, the people responsible for maintaining hygienic school toilets are seldom recognised. Their work helps reduce the spread of germs, protects learner health and preserves the dignity of children who rely on clean sanitation facilities every day.
It is this often-overlooked role that is at the heart of ‘Cleaner Toilets, Brighter Futures’, a sanitation initiative led by Unilever South Africa’s Domestos brand in partnership with the Department of Basic Education.
Since its launch in 2017, the programme has trained school cleaners and school management teams from more than 2,000 Primary chools, positively impacting the lives of over one million learners nationwide, and counting. Rather than simply supplying cleaning products, the programme equips schools with practical sanitation management systems, hygiene training, personal protective equipment and monitoring tools designed to improve the long-term maintenance of school toilet facilities.
For many school cleaners, the training represents something equally valuable: recognition of the important role they play within their school communities.
“Attending this programme was incredibly powerful for me as a cleaner. It gave me practical knowledge of how to manage hygiene in schools and changed how I will approach my work. I now understand that keeping toilets clean is not just about cleaning, it is about protecting the health, dignity and well-being of every learner.” – Ncebo Nyawuza, School Cleaner, Gobhela Primary School
Participating schools receive practical resources including sanitation management plans, daily cleaning checklists, inventory trackers and infrastructure inspection tools to help maintain consistent hygiene standards throughout the year.
Queen Mgobhozi, Unilever Brands Social Impact and Partnerships Lead, believes recognising school cleaners is an important part of creating healthier learning environments.
“School cleaners play a vital role in protecting learner health, yet their contribution often goes unseen. By providing practical training, resources and sustainable systems, we hope to empower schools and the people responsible for maintaining safe and hygienic facilities every day.”
The programme also encourages a shared responsibility for sanitation by involving principals, educators and learners in maintaining clean facilities and promoting positive hygiene habits throughout the school community.
Schools participating in the programme say the training has already influenced the way they approach sanitation management.
Jessica Pillay, Head of Department at Schola Morris Special School in Umzinto, says the programme encouraged everyone at the school to become more proactive.
“The Domestos workshop was a very fruitful experience and reinforced the idea that every home can help build a better school.”
Similarly, Goodman Bheka Mncunu, Principal of Mbozamo Primary School in Shakaville, KwaDukuza, says the practical training will have a lasting impact.
“We appreciate the Unilever Domestos team for delivering a workshop that was both progressive and highly effective. The training has strengthened our understanding of toilet hygiene, effective cleaning practices and reducing germs within our school environment.”
As South Africa places increasing emphasis on learner wellbeing, underscored by the recent launch of the National Guidelines for WinS (Wash In Schools) in June by Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, recognising the individuals who quietly safeguard children’s hygiene every day is just as critical as investing in their education.
For thousands of school cleaners across the country, creating healthier schools begins long before the first lesson starts.
