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An investigation into the cleanliness of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Corinth Campus female washroom facilities.

INTRODUCTION1a) Authorization

The following is a recommendation report investigating the cleanliness of the female washroom at the UTT Corinth Campus. This topic was chosen by the group because at the UTT Corinth Campus, many students often complain that female washrooms are not clean enough and in some instances pose a potential hazard to our health. One must agree that toilets are part of our lives the conditions of the toilets is also a serious matter of health, where germs can be spread through the toilets.

1b) Problem/ Opportunity/ Purpose

Diseases can be spread through users in public toilets. Many female students use the school toilets daily and it is important to keep them hygienic and sanitary. Clean school toilets reflect well upon the universitys hygiene standards. Despite having the maintenance crew to clean the female toilets, many female students are still unhappy with the cleanliness of the toilets. Many believe that the cleaners are not doing a good job to maintain a clean environment in the female washroom while others believe that the students are not using the washroom properly hence its poor conditions. Our group believe that it is both the cleaners and the users who are responsible for the cleanliness of the female washroom. Therefore we decided to investigate this situation to find out the real reasons for this occurrence with the hope of improving this situation. 1 c) Scope

In order to get data for this paper the following research methods employed were both quantitative and qualitative. We employed the use of open ended questions, closed ended questions, interviews and secondary research. The population size was fifty and we divided the population into quotas and gave out questionnaires to randomly selected incumbents. The questionnaires were use to ascertain our fellow female students opinion of the current conditions of the washroom, the reasons for the deplorable conditions and some recommendations in to improving this problem. 1 d. Background

The University of Trinidad and Tobago was established in the year 2004. The University is a multi-campus facility with major campuses which includes O'Meara Campus, Valsayn Campus, Corinth Campus, Point Lisas Campus, John S. Donaldson Campus (Rebranded as the Creativity Campus), San Fernando Campus, Chaguaramas Campus, Tobago Campus, The Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (E.C.I.A.F.), Tamana InTech Park, Wallerfield, site of the University's Signature Complex and Main Campus still under construction. However, our study is based on the UTT Corinth Campus. The UTT Corinth Campus formerly known as the Corinth Teachers College became part of The University of Trinidad and Tobago in the year 2006. It is located in south Trinidad, nestled in the pristine undulating thirteen acres of College Lands in middle of East San Fernando; the Corinth Teachers College first opened its doors on the 10th September, 1973. This institution can boast of a rich legacy as it has played a pivotal role in the education system of our nation, educating primary and secondary school teachers in pedagogical skills and practice among other studies relevant to the holistic development of the ideal teacher. The Corinth Teachers College. This campus houses approximately five thousand teachers in training. The campus comprises of the security area, the cafeteria, the administrative block and IT department, block K which houses approximately twenty classrooms and is facilitated by two washrooms comprising of 12 cubicles altogether, block E which is three stories high house washrooms, a gym and approximately thirteen classroom, block F which holds approximately another fifteen classes and one male and female washroom. While it may seem to be an adequate amount of washrooms available there is the continuous problem that students face on a daily basis that is the unsanitary conditions of the washrooms facilities especially in the female washroom.

SCOPE OF THE REPORT/ LIMITATIONS

This report focused on the conditions of the female washroom facilities at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Corinth Campus. It investigates the cleanliness of the facilities through direct questioning, research and field visits. The report analyses the data provided by this investigation in order to reach a conclusion as to its cleanliness. The study was generally well received, however there were a few limitations that were encountered. Although fifty (50) persons were given questionnaires, the year four students were out on their Practicum field visits when they were distributed. While we able to get some Year four (4) students to answer them, many were not available to participate. Another limitation we face was with the Sports and leisure students. This faculty consists of a predominantly male population; therefore there were few students that were capable of answering our questionnaire, which focused on the female washroom facilities. The Sports and leisure faculty, being a Sport oriented one, used the shower amenities as well. This made this particular limitation, a big one.The last limitation that was faced was one of schedule constraints. Being Year two students, we are scheduled to have classes every day, most times all day. This left lunchtimes, afternoons and sometimes mornings available for research for this report. During these time periods, many students were otherwise occupied and it was difficult to get them to assist us in answering our questionnaires.METHODOLOGYThe survey method of investigation involved in the data collection process of this research was a questionnaire. This method was used because it was non-time consuming for both parties involved and also because it was easy to collect the information needed from the combined fifty (50) participants from the two faculties of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Corinth Campus; The Education faculty and the Sports and Leisure faculty. This method was also used because of its relevance and reliability. Effort was placed on ensuring that there were respondents from both faculties from varying year groupings. This questionnaire was administered to students of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Corinth Campus. The questionnaire was designed with both structured and free response questions. This meant that some questions provided the respondents with fixed alternatives and some were phrased to encourage individual response. A section for other comments was also present in the questionnaire. This type of structure made analysing and interpreting the information received easier; and facilitated a clear conclusion.In addition to the questionnaires distributed, some students were also interviewed. Each student was asked their personal view on the cleanliness of the washroom facilities. This method also encouraged individual responses to better gauge the general consensus of the female student body on the subject. These interviews were conducted informally in order to allow the participants to answer and comment more easily. The interviewee was not prompted to maintain the integrity of their answers and maintain an unbiased result. Secondary data was accessed from research and articles on Health and Safety. Although it was time consuming to gather this information, these data sources were very reliable and provided information that could support the conclusion of this report.TIME SCHEDULE

Gantt Chart showing time scheduling for the Group Report projectedTopic/Task6/10 to 12/1013/10 to 19/1020/10 to 26/1027/10 to 2/113/11 to 9/1110/11 to 16/1117/11 to 22/11

Meet with partners

Design data collection method/s

Distribute and collect completed questionnaires and interviews

Data consolidation and analysis

Discuss findings with group members and come up with appropriate conclusion

The above Gantt Chart shows a breakdown of the expected time scheduling for the Group Report for Business Communication. This projection is an estimated layout of how our time was allocated in order to maximize effective time management and complete the project within a reasonable time.BUDGETANALYSIS OF DATA

Fifty students were questioned; Ten (10) Year one students, Twenty eight (28) Year two students, Eleven (11) Year three students and One (1) Year four student (see Figure 1.1 below). This allowed distribution of questionnaires throughout the campus body, not withstanding that year four students were not on campus during that period due to their three week Practicum field visit. This is reflected in the chart.Figure 1.1 Bar chart showing distribution of questionnaire according to year body

Within the subset of respondents, four (4) students were from the Early Childhood specialization, nineteen (19) students were from the Primary Education specialization, eleven (11) were from the Secondary Education specialization, three (3) were from the Special Education specialization and thirteen (13) were from the Sports and Leisure specialization (refer to Figure 1.2). This was done to get a fairly even distribution of results throughout the different specializations.Figure 1.2 Pie chart showing distribution of questionnaire according to specialization

The majority of students use the bathroom facilities more than six times per week (refer to Figure 1.3 below). The majority of 62% used the bathroom facilities are used for toilet facilities only, 12% used the shower facilities and 10% used both (refer to Figure 1.4 below).Figure 1.3 Bar chart showing frequency of bathroom use per week

Figure 1.4 Pie chart showing uses of the bathroom facilities

Results show that the female students rate the physical environment and the facilities of the washroom between clean and very unclean, with 54% rating the facilities as unclean and only 2% rating the facilities as clean (refer to Figure 1.5 below). The second highest rating for the facility was 24% for very unclean and 20% rating it as neutral. Figure 1.5 Bar chart showing the cleanliness rating in the washrooms

When questioned, 90% of students thought that the bathroom facilities were not maintained properly, 8% of students believed that the facilities were properly maintained and 2% were unsure (refer to Figure 1.6 below).Figure 1.6 Pie chart showing student rating on bathroom facilities maintenance

When asked about the timeliness of bathroom sanitation, 70% of students answered that the bathroom facilities were not sanitised on time, 22% believed that it was sanitized on time, 2% answered perhaps and 6% did not know (refer to Figure 1.7 below). This clearly indicates that the majority of the persons questioned believed that the facilities were not sanitized on time.Figure 1.7 Bar chart showing student rating on timeliness of bathroom facilities sanitation

When asked about the availability of toiletries, students answered almost equally about the availability, with 44% saying yes and 42% saying no (refer to Figure 1.8 below). In addition, when asked about the frequency of availability of toiletries, only 12% of respondents stated that toiletries were available every day, 46% stated that they were available every two days, 30% every three days and 12% answered never available (refer to Figure 1.9 below).Figure 1.8 Bar chart showing availability

of toiletries.

Figure 1.9 Bar chart showing how often toiletries are available

Results show that the female students rate the effectiveness/functionality of the sink and toilet facilities of the washroom between good and very poor, with 4% rating the facilities as good and 26% rating the facilities as very poor (refer to Figure 2.0 below). In addition, the bathroom and changing facilities also rated between good and very poor, with 14% rating it as good and 18% rating as very poor, the majority however of 34% rated neutral for the changing and bathroom facilities and 34% rated poor (refer to Figure 2.1 below).Figure 2.0 Bar chart showing the effectiveness/functionality of the washroom facilities- sinks and toilets

Figure 2.1 Bar chart showing the effectiveness/functionality of the washroom facilities- bathroom and change rooms

Students rate the physical environment of the washroom facilities between good and very poor, with 12% rating the facilities as good and 18% rating the facilities as very poor, 32% were neutral and 38% rated it was poor (refer to Figure 2.2 below). This data clearly showed that the majority of students thought that the physical environment was poor.Figure 2.2 Bar chart rating the physical environment of the washroom facilities

Our data has shown that 64% of students thought that the poor sanitation of the washroom facilities affected their work attitude, only 30% said it did not and 6% said they did not know (refer to Figure 2.3 below). Figure 2.3 Pie chart showing how sanitation of facilities affect work attitude

In addition, 8% of students reported seeing an out of order sign every day, 40% reported seeing one every week and 38% reported seeing one throughout the semester (refer to Figure 2.3 below).Figure 2.3 Bar chart showing frequency of washrooms being out of order

FOLLOWING INTERVIEWS AND SITE VISIT/S

Following interviews with students and our own site visits, we observed that block E toilets in the school are always out of order due an over- flowing system. The environment of the toilets affects its users in one way or another. For example, if a user steps into a dirty toilet, she would just either walk away or relieve herself as quickly as possible and move out of the toilet immediately. Even if he or she dropped a piece of tissue on the way out, he or she would not bother to pick it up. Vice versa, if a user steps into a clean and hygienic toilet, she would treat the toilet with care and caution so as to not dirty it. The cleaners and the toilets users, in this case the female students have their own part to play in keeping the toilets clean and hygienic. Additionally, there is an urgent need to have the plumbing in the female washroom at Block E repaired.

Appendix 1An Aerial view of the UTT Corinth Campus

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