IN 1970 when Austin Primary School in Myersville, St Elizabeth, first opened its doors, students would regularly ask to be excused to go use the newly constructed pit toilets.

Three decades later, the more than 200 students currently in attendance dread using the facility, which is badly in need of an upgrade.

The students told the Observer that they have no proper bathroom facilities, and dread using the pit latrines.

The toilets are not smelly, but the wooden structures have seen better days.

There are four adjoining latrines for boys, and an equal number for girls. The latrines are at least 100 yards from the school building, and a steady stream of pupils could be seen streaming to and from the toilets last week.

One student, who played with her schoolmates, begged for the situation to improve.

“A dem toilet deh we haffi use cause nothing else no deh yah. I hope one day we can get good bathrooms fi use at our school,” the girl told the Observer.

One resident of Myersville was most biting in his comments, noting that the students were being neglected because their school was located outside of the city.

“A slackness this. No pickney should never have to use pit toilet when them go to school,” the angry resident said.

“Not because we live a country; we have good toilet at our homes, so our pickney no used to them ting deh.”

The school has been in operation since 1970 and school principal, Dalvern Cameron, told the Observer that the situation has been same since the school opened its doors.

“We have only those pit toilets here,” Cameron said, pointing towards the toilets.

“The ministry (of education) has been told of the situation but no help has been forthcoming so far.”

There is also no running water or telephone at the institution.