Kincumber Primary parents demand upgrade to ‘unsanitary’ toilets

Parents at a public school have been left begging to have the education facility’s bathrooms updated as students refuse to use the toilets.

The toilets at a NSW public school are so bad that students have been refusing to use them.

The Parents and Citizens Council at Kincumber Primary, on the NSW Central Coast, took to change.org to launch a petition to have the toilets updated.

“The bathrooms are grimy, the boys side has an overwhelming urine smell, and are unsanitary, creating an overall uncomfortable experience for our children,” the petition read.

“Access to clean, updated, inviting bathroom facilities is crucial for healthy children and their ability to be active learners.”

The petition claimed students were avoiding using the bathroom all day.

Parents at a public school have been left begging to have the education facility’s bathrooms updated as students refuse to use the toilets due to its “poor” conditions. Picture: Change.org

The P&C’s pleas haven’t gone unnoticed, with a NSW Department of Education spokesperson telling news.com.au it was aware of the issue.

“The Department cares about the health and wellbeing of our students and is aware of this issue,” the spokesperson said.

“A major refurbishment of the school’s toilets is scheduled for next year.

“We are continually considering the refurbishment of student amenities at the school against similar requests across the state.”

News.com.au understands the toilets are functional and inspected regularly by school staff, with a deep clean scheduled this month.

In addition to the deep clean, neutralising products are being added to the bathroom and mesh on external windows are being removed to improve ventilation.

The petition was launched on October 16 and has accumulated more than 180 signatures at the time of publication.

Organisers said they wanted the kids to be proud of their school and feel comfortable using the bathrooms.

“This is not a mere request for aesthetics but a call to maintain the basic sanitation standards necessary for our children’s health and education,” the petition read.

Parents and caregivers were quick to throw their weight behind the petition.

Parents claim students are refusing to use the bathroom. Picture: change.org

A NSW Education spokesperson said renovations were planned. Picture: Change.org

“The standard of the Kincumber Primary School toilets is embarrassing. I have a child in Year 6 and one in kindergarten at this school and both refuse to use the bathrooms there due to their condition,” one parent wrote.

“My kindergarten child is busting to go to the toilet when she gets off the school bus and it’s totally and utterly inappropriate to put students in that position and think it’s acceptable. This needs to be remedied ASAP. Particularly seeing it was already approved in 2023 and we’re about to enter 2025. Absolutely ridiculous.”

Another said: “I’m signing because our kids need appropriate toilets. These toilets are at least 25 years old. I’m a member of the P&C and we were promised toilet renovations last year. We had inspections to start the process, a promised time frame for delivery and then nothing. Now no plans.”