Assessment of Environmental Sanitation in Secondary Schools in Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria

School environmental sanitation directly influences student health outcomes, attendance, and academic performance. This cross-sectional study assessed environmental sanitation conditions in fifteen public secondary schools in Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria. Structured observational checklists covering toilet facilities, water supply, refuse management, drainage, canteen hygiene, and school compound cleanliness were administered during unannounced visits. Additionally, questionnaire-based surveys were conducted with 450 students and twenty-five environmental health prefects. Findings showed that sixty percent of schools had fewer functional toilets than recommended, with female students disproportionately affected by inadequate facilities. Safe piped water was available in only thirty percent of schools, with the majority relying on stored water from tanks of questionable quality. Open refuse dumping within school premises was documented in seventy-two percent of schools assessed. Canteen conditions were rated unsatisfactory in fifty-three percent of schools, with handlers observed to lack basic food hygiene practices. Students in schools with poor sanitation reported significantly higher rates of gastrointestinal illness and school absenteeism. The study highlights a systemic neglect of environmental health infrastructure in Owerri public secondary schools. Recommendations include budget allocations for school sanitation upgrades, training of school health workers, and inclusion of environmental health as a compulsory subject in the secondary school curriculum. Keywords: school sanitation, environmental health, secondary schools, Owerri, Nigeria.