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Period poverty increasingly hurting education of girls

15 Sep 2022

  • Concerns raised over sanitary napkin prices preventing girls from attending school during periods
  • Teachers’ union notes parents prioritising food over pads amidst difficulties
  • MPs Rohini Kavirathna and Dr. Sudarshini lament high taxes on sanitary napkins
BY Buddhika Samaraweera   Due to the massive increase in the cost of living this year and the significant increase in the prices of sanitary napkins, many schoolgirls do not go to school on the days they are menstruating, adversely affecting aspects such as their education, mental and physical health, and personality. This was noted by many parties, including politicians, trade unions, teachers, doctors, and parents speaking to The Morning.  Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union Deputy Secretary Visaka Gothami Abeyrathna told us that although the increase in prices of other commodities is openly discussed in society, the increase in sanitary napkin prices is not discussed as society is somewhat reluctant to talk about such.  “Most women and schoolchildren hide this topic, but there is a serious issue with regard to sanitary napkins. I, as a teacher, know that many children do not attend school when they are on their period cycle. That is because they can’t afford to procure sanitary napkins. Providing food for the family comes first and therefore parents spend almost everything they earn on food. Then, they are unable to buy this kind of commodity for their children, which will have a serious impact on their physical and mental wellbeing.”  Noting that the prices of all items needed by schoolchildren such as stationery, school bags, and shoes have gone up, Abeyrathna queried parents’ ability to purchase all these with their income which has gone down in the prevailing economic crisis. She also emphasised that the Government should formulate a programme to address such issues and uplift the education sector, which has seen a great setback over the past few years.  “The education sector collapsed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and fuel shortage. As a result, the relevant syllabi could not be covered, and it is still not sure until when the schools can be kept open in this situation. In such circumstances, it is really unfortunate that schoolchildren aren’t able to attend school as they can't afford to buy sanitary napkins. If these issues can’t be resolved, there is no need to have a Women’s and Children’s Affairs State Minister,” she said. Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Vice President Rasika Handapangoda, speaking to The Morning, stated that with the recent progress in the health sector, even schoolgirls in rural areas were accustomed to using sanitary napkins, but they can no longer afford to purchase them. She noted that children who were accustomed to using them were reluctant to resort to other options, so they tend not to attend school when menstruating unless sanitary napkins are available. Moreover, several parents of school-going children, speaking to The Morning, said that it has become impossible for them to purchase what their children need, such as stationery, bags, and shoes, after spending on day-to-day needs such as food items. They said that they have had to manage all these expenses with what they earn, which is the same as what they earned a few years ago or even less. State Minister of Women’s and Children’s Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe was not available for comment.  Meanwhile, the Doctors’ Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights, during a recent media briefing which was also attended by teachers’ trade unions’ representatives, stated that schoolgirls, university students, teachers, as well as public and private sector employees have been tempted to stay at home when menstruating, as they cannot afford to purchase sanitary napkins due to the steep rise in their prices. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna Kavirathna, who is a teacher by profession, told The Morning that due to the increase in taxes on sanitary napkins, which had been hiked on several occasions, they have now become unaffordable. She said that it is an unfortunate situation that sanitary napkins, which are considered an essential product in other countries, are being taxed as a luxury product in Sri Lanka.  “This should be made a tax-free product, and if that is not possible, at least the taxes imposed on it should be reduced to about 10%. There are hundreds of businessmen who evade paying taxes, but the Government does not take action on such individuals and instead tries to increase tax income by imposing taxes on sanitary napkins. Also, the Government needs to support the production of sanitary napkins locally. However, no such programme has been implemented so far,” she said. She said that females between the ages of 13-49 years generally need sanitary napkins, adding that more than 50% of them, according to recent studies, cannot afford them. She said that parents who often cannot afford to buy sanitary napkins for their school-going children do not send their children to school on days they are menstruating. She added that when these issues are taken up in Parliament, the relevant authorities are seen attempting to defend themselves by saying that such issues do not exist.  “When the attendance of schoolchildren decreases in this way, we will not be able to achieve the desired goals with the money allocated for education. Also, when children feel that they are unable to buy the things that they need in this way, it affects their mental health. For instance, sanitary napkins are not something that can be borrowed from someone. Therefore, such impressions can lead to long-term adverse conditions,” Kavirathna mentioned. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, who is currently functioning as an independent MP in Parliament, told The Morning that the high price of sanitary napkins is one of the reasons why there is a lack of awareness about them in society. Therefore, she said, there is a need to implement a programme to remove the taxes imposed on them and to give a proper understanding of their use to all, including schoolchildren.  “Using alternatives like old clothes instead of sanitary napkins can cause health problems. Therefore, a programme should be made to provide menstrual hygiene products to schoolchildren for free, and for women at low prices. The first step should be to remove taxes on items like sanitary napkins. In addition to that, the necessary facilities including those to dispose of sanitary napkins in a hygienic way should be established at schools,” she said. The education sector is one among many sectors that have been affected due to the prevailing economic crisis caused by the lack of foreign exchange reserves in the country. Furthermore, the CTU recently urged the Government to formulate an expeditious programme for schoolchildren to purchase exercise books and other stationery at concessionary prices, taking into account the rapidly increasing prices of such at present.  


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