The Primary committee of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is recommending that the Ministry of Education abandon the use use of pit toilets in schools and replace them with water closets.

According to the primary committee, which recently presented its report for the 2008-2009 academic year to JTA delegates, there is growing concern by parents, educators and the general public about the continued use of pit toilets at some primary schools.

The report stated that based on surveys done by representatives from each parish, there are still some 40 schools in St Thomas and 22 schools in St Catherine where there are only pit-toilet facilities.

Additionally, there are two schools using both pit toilet and periodic flush systems and two schools with periodic flush systems only.

The periodic flush system is designed to operate at intervals.

Earlier this year, some committee members visited the Papine High School to observe its periodic flush system, which has been programmed to flush at break, lunch and dismissal times.

This system is an upgrade from the pit toilet and operates from a tank which passes water through a channel.

The report says the Ministry of Education, which had installed the periodic flush system, is now replacing them with water closets.

The committee, chaired by Anne Geddes-Nelson and consisting of nine members and four officers of the JTA, in its report, chided the ministry for allowing the continued use of pit toilets in primary schools.

The primary committee's report also recommended the ministry adjust present class sizes to enable more effective teaching. On another note, the committee suggested the Grade Four Literacy Test be externally administered.