Sanitation remains a far cry for various schools in the state capital, according to the National School Sanitation Initiative ratings.

Five institutions have got the lowest ratings in the scheme introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in collaboration with the Union ministry of human resource development, Union ministry of urban development and GIZ.

Headquartered in Bonn and Eschborn, Germany, GIZ or Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation) is an international enterprise owned by the German government, operating in many fields across 130-odd countries. It primarily works for public-sector organisations.

The initiative aims to inculcate sanitation habits among schoolchildren. About a dozen schools had ensured their participation in the online rating, of which five were from Patna district.

Sherwood School, Kiddy Convent High School, Eklavya Educational Complex, May Flower School and Army School, Danapur cantonment, got a red rating, which means a below 33 per cent adherence to norms and in need of immediate attention.

The schools have received sanitation status in colour categories. After September 30, Rs 750 will be charged from each institution for getting registered.

The schools with the best sanitation status (91 to cent per cent compliance with norms) will be put in the green colour category, indicating: “Excellent. Keep it up”. Institutions with 75-90 per cent adherence will be given a blue colour, meaning: “Very good, but there is scope for improvement”.

Yellow colour refers to “Fair: can improve” and will be given to those with 50-74 per cent adherence to norms. Black refers to “Poor: needs considerable improvement” (34 to 49 percent adherence to the norms).

May Flower School director J.R. Sharma said: “Applying online is a good thing but there must be some physical system of rating.”

Meena Singh, whose daughter studies in Class IX of a CBSE-affiliated school in the city, said: “The board should ensure sanitation in schools. My daughter finds the dustbin at her school to be dirty at times.”

Another parent Jitendra said the school should provide proper hooks in toilets for hanging clothes. “My son finds it difficult to hang his trousers at times because the hook is not fitted properly. It needs to be fixed.”

There are around 40 criteria, which have to be fulfilled by the schools to get proper ratings. The schools were asked to register themselves online and provide details. After September 30, Rs 750 will be charged from them to get registered when it becomes mandatory also.

A CBSE official at the regional office said: “The board aims to instil sanitation habits among students and therefore it would be mandatory for all schools to get their sanitation status after September 30.”