MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL FACILITIES FOR IMPROVED STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

The effective running of the school system is significantly tied to the provision, and much more the management of school facilities. Educational outcomes can be greatly affected if schools are deficient in essential facilities, and its management in the teaching and learning process. This study therefore investigated the management of school facilities for improved students’ academic performance in public junior secondary schools in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The study aimed to ascertain how administrative offices, learning facilities, health facilities, and sports infrastructure are managed to support teaching and learning. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised of four hundred and ninety-six (496) public junior secondary schools teachers from the 28 public junior secondary schools in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The sample is 298 teachers, representing 60% of the population, obtained by using simple random sampling technique. The criterion mean of 2.5 was used in taking decisions, while z-test was used to analyze the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that administrative offices, learning facilities, health facilities, and sports infrastructure were generally well-managed and positively influenced students’ academic performance. Significant gender differences were observed, with male teachers consistently rating facility management higher than female teachers. The study concluded that effective management of school facilities is essential for enhancing students’ learning outcomes and recommended that regular maintenance, equitable resource provision, investment in health and sports facilities, and incorporation of teacher feedback into facility planning, and that schools should implement a systematic maintenance schedule for administrative offices, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and sports infrastructure.