DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2021.v09i06.007

Pages: 250-259

The objective of UNICEF in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is to contribute to the realization of children’s rights to survival and development; increase equitable and sustainable access to, and use of safe water and basic sanitation services and promote improved personal hygiene. This study was conducted by the researchers to determine how the school management implements the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) In Schools Program in Zone 1 Division of Zambales, Philippines. The study also determined the challenges of the schools in the implement the WASH Program. The descriptive research design was utilized that helped determine the data gathering tool and the statistical tools to interpret and analyze the data collected from 672 respondents (school coordinators, parents and pupils). The instrument used to gather data is the questionnaire based on the instrument used by DepEd schools to evaluate the implementation of the program and how do schools address the challenges. The findings in the study revealed that the elementary schools in Zone 1 of the Division of Zambales are mostly small schools with an average enrolment of more than 300 pupils, with 13 teachers and 13 classrooms that are located along the highway. The parents, pupils and teacher- coordinators perceived that the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program was implemented in their respective schools however there were seldom challenges they encountered so that the school coordinator perceived that they often practice mitigating strategies to implement the program. The study further revealed that there was low negative relationship between the implementation of WASH and challenges in its implementation as perceived by coordinator-respondents while a high positive correlation between the implementation of WASH and challenges in its implementation existed as perceived by the students. There was no significant relationship between the implementation of WASH and addressing challenges