Darwin Middle School removes doors from boys’ toilet to stop ‘loitering’

A Top End school has removed the entry doors to some toilets in an attempt to reduce ‘loitering’. Do you agree?

A POPULAR Top End school has removed the entry doors to the boys’ toilets in an attempt to reduce “students loitering” in the bathrooms.

In a statement, the Education Department confirmed the entry doors were removed at the start of the term at Darwin Middle School.

“The school removed the entry doors to the male toilets at the start of this term to reduce students loitering in and around the bathrooms,” it read.

“The cubicle doors remain in place and privacy has not been affected by the removal of the entry doors.

“This change was made due to feedback directly from students to support their safety. Students were advised of this change at the start of Term 3, 2022.”

It comes after a student, who asked to remain anonymous, voiced their concern for privacy to the NT News.

“It is now possible to see straight into the boys’ toilets and many students are very adamant of this,” the student said.

“The toilet doors on the girls’ rest rooms are still up and they have no plans to remove them.

“I don’t understand how this could be considered a fair response to the occurrences in the rest rooms. The rest rooms were not being treated fairly but this can’t be considered a fair response.

“It feels as if we have no rights to do anything, it feels like a prison. It’s already hard enough to get permission to go to the rest room, now no student feels safe to use the toilets.”

The NT News understands the school has experienced issues with the toilets in recent years, including students wetting and throwing toilet paper on the roof.

Originally published as Darwin Middle School removes doors from boys’ toilet to stop ‘loitering’