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| School plant |
In
this piece, Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
examines school administration and explains school plant, its utilisation and how community relations helps in their maintenance and safeguard in schools.
this piece, Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
examines school administration and explains school plant, its utilisation and how community relations helps in their maintenance and safeguard in schools.
School plant
School
plant is defined as all those facilities that are built for and owned by an
educational institution which aid the smooth teaching and learning experiences.
In fact, school plants include all teaching aids available in the school
premises. Therefore, any resource, the enjoyment of which helps in imparting
knowledge, constitutes school plant.
Libraries, laboratories, classrooms, boreholes, farms, sports field,
garden, exam hall and even the pathways
in the school premises fall within this
definition. School plant in other words, is everything within the school
premises which includes the site, buildings, equipment and all essential
structures, permanent and non-permanent as well as machines and laboratory
equipment and others.
plant is defined as all those facilities that are built for and owned by an
educational institution which aid the smooth teaching and learning experiences.
In fact, school plants include all teaching aids available in the school
premises. Therefore, any resource, the enjoyment of which helps in imparting
knowledge, constitutes school plant.
Libraries, laboratories, classrooms, boreholes, farms, sports field,
garden, exam hall and even the pathways
in the school premises fall within this
definition. School plant in other words, is everything within the school
premises which includes the site, buildings, equipment and all essential
structures, permanent and non-permanent as well as machines and laboratory
equipment and others.
Management
Management is the process of dealing
with or controlling things or people, e.g. “the management of the
economy.” It is the organisation and coordination of the
activities of a business in order to achieve defined objectives. According to the management guru Peter Drucker
(1909-2005), the basic task of management
includes both marketing and innovation. It
is simply running an institution in the most cost-effective ways for optimum
realisation of its ultimate objectives. Here, our objective is teaching and
learning experiences through effective teaching given by efficient teaching
staff.
with or controlling things or people, e.g. “the management of the
economy.” It is the organisation and coordination of the
activities of a business in order to achieve defined objectives. According to the management guru Peter Drucker
(1909-2005), the basic task of management
includes both marketing and innovation. It
is simply running an institution in the most cost-effective ways for optimum
realisation of its ultimate objectives. Here, our objective is teaching and
learning experiences through effective teaching given by efficient teaching
staff.
Community relations
Community relations defines how an establishment or an
organisation, in our case, school, relates well and in a cordial environment
with its neighbours, in order for the two parties to enjoy mutual
benefits. A good relationship with the
environment will ensure that school plants are maintained in good condition and
are not tampered with as the community members will see any of such school
plants as benefiting to both the school and the community. Community relations
can be seen as a firm’s interactions with the people constituting the
environment it operates in and draws resources from, to foster
mutual support and understanding.
organisation, in our case, school, relates well and in a cordial environment
with its neighbours, in order for the two parties to enjoy mutual
benefits. A good relationship with the
environment will ensure that school plants are maintained in good condition and
are not tampered with as the community members will see any of such school
plants as benefiting to both the school and the community. Community relations
can be seen as a firm’s interactions with the people constituting the
environment it operates in and draws resources from, to foster
mutual support and understanding.
Geographical location of school plant
According to Whawo (1993), the
geographical location of the school is a determining factor; computers and the
likes are also inclusive, and so on. The major task of educational
administration is to utilize all available resources in an effort to achieve
the objectives for which schools are established. The procurement and
maintenance of school equipment costs school proprietors a lot of money; this
cost factor accounts for the unavailability of very essential school facilities
in most public schools in Nigeria. Research findings support the contention
that a strong relationship exists between the quality of a school plant and the
academic achievement of students (Ololube, 2009). The majority of parents, who
are aware of this, spend time searching for well-equipped schools with high
quality infrastructural facilities for their children and wards.
geographical location of the school is a determining factor; computers and the
likes are also inclusive, and so on. The major task of educational
administration is to utilize all available resources in an effort to achieve
the objectives for which schools are established. The procurement and
maintenance of school equipment costs school proprietors a lot of money; this
cost factor accounts for the unavailability of very essential school facilities
in most public schools in Nigeria. Research findings support the contention
that a strong relationship exists between the quality of a school plant and the
academic achievement of students (Ololube, 2009). The majority of parents, who
are aware of this, spend time searching for well-equipped schools with high
quality infrastructural facilities for their children and wards.
Good Leadership
Facilities cannot manage themselves
except there is good leadership that will set the ball rolling. Leadership,
whether in the primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions, has a
vital role to play in the maintenance of school plant. Ministry workers do not
stay in educational institutions on a daily basis in order to dictate what is
going wrong or right with the school plant. The school authorities should be
more concerned about what the students’ needs are at their developmental stages
and instructional levels. The students should be properly accommodated in their
various classrooms and adequate facilities and equipment provided for their
effective learning. Facilities and Equipment should be for both indoor and
outdoor learning so as to cater for overall development of the learner. Those
facilities and equipment should be properly maintained for them to render their
services always, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and others.
Kenezevich (1975:563) emphasized that “the physical needs are met through
provision of safe structure, adequate sanitary facilities, a balanced visual
environment, appropriate thermal environment and sufficient shelter space for
work and play.” The learner’s emotional needs are met by creating pleasant
surroundings, a friendly atmosphere and an inspiring environment. The head of
an institution should make it a point of duty to appoint people whose task it
is to check all these facilities and equipment and submit their report to the
authorities for adequate attention. In that case, maintenance culture should be
part and parcel of institutions of learning in Nigeria.
except there is good leadership that will set the ball rolling. Leadership,
whether in the primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions, has a
vital role to play in the maintenance of school plant. Ministry workers do not
stay in educational institutions on a daily basis in order to dictate what is
going wrong or right with the school plant. The school authorities should be
more concerned about what the students’ needs are at their developmental stages
and instructional levels. The students should be properly accommodated in their
various classrooms and adequate facilities and equipment provided for their
effective learning. Facilities and Equipment should be for both indoor and
outdoor learning so as to cater for overall development of the learner. Those
facilities and equipment should be properly maintained for them to render their
services always, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and others.
Kenezevich (1975:563) emphasized that “the physical needs are met through
provision of safe structure, adequate sanitary facilities, a balanced visual
environment, appropriate thermal environment and sufficient shelter space for
work and play.” The learner’s emotional needs are met by creating pleasant
surroundings, a friendly atmosphere and an inspiring environment. The head of
an institution should make it a point of duty to appoint people whose task it
is to check all these facilities and equipment and submit their report to the
authorities for adequate attention. In that case, maintenance culture should be
part and parcel of institutions of learning in Nigeria.
Effective Monitoring of the users of
school plant
school plant
Setting up monitoring team in every
educational institution to check the school plant and the people using them and
writing an official report about their findings, would go a long way making
these school plant last long and remain valuable for effective use. When they
are left unattended to, there is likelihood that they will deteriorate and will
not be useful for educative process. The users should also be educated to make
use of equipment they are meant for teaching and learning and that is why
in-service training is recommended for both academic and non-academic staff.
The training will help them understand the facilities and equipment better for
service delivery. Leaving the equipment lying fallow in our various educational
institutions or neglecting them is not for the best interest of education in
our nation. Students should be made to understand that the school plant is for
the interest of all and all hands must be on deck to keep them in good
condition so as to make them serviceable.
educational institution to check the school plant and the people using them and
writing an official report about their findings, would go a long way making
these school plant last long and remain valuable for effective use. When they
are left unattended to, there is likelihood that they will deteriorate and will
not be useful for educative process. The users should also be educated to make
use of equipment they are meant for teaching and learning and that is why
in-service training is recommended for both academic and non-academic staff.
The training will help them understand the facilities and equipment better for
service delivery. Leaving the equipment lying fallow in our various educational
institutions or neglecting them is not for the best interest of education in
our nation. Students should be made to understand that the school plant is for
the interest of all and all hands must be on deck to keep them in good
condition so as to make them serviceable.
Community relations
and its strategic importance to school plants
Community
relations, as one chief executive recently put it, “is food for the soul
of the organization.” No longer is an afterthought or corporate
window-dressing, community relations, as more chief executives are
acknowledging, now a serious, strategic aspect of business for American
companies, a fundamental ingredient for the health of the enterprise.”
relations, as one chief executive recently put it, “is food for the soul
of the organization.” No longer is an afterthought or corporate
window-dressing, community relations, as more chief executives are
acknowledging, now a serious, strategic aspect of business for American
companies, a fundamental ingredient for the health of the enterprise.”
Competitive
business and social pressures are forcing a redefinition of the relationship
between company and community. When a company makes a commitment to the
community part of its core business strategy, it not only helps attract and
retain top employees, but it also positions itself positively among customers
and, increasingly, improves its position in the market. Positive, proactive
connections to the community can translate into a boost to the bottom line.
business and social pressures are forcing a redefinition of the relationship
between company and community. When a company makes a commitment to the
community part of its core business strategy, it not only helps attract and
retain top employees, but it also positions itself positively among customers
and, increasingly, improves its position in the market. Positive, proactive
connections to the community can translate into a boost to the bottom line.
Maintaining school plant for effective functionality
Principals of schools should be
thinking of the best interest of the learners under their care and one way of
showing this interest is maintaining of the school plant. The minds of staff
and students should be prepared by making them understand that they are one
family and that the structures in the school premises belong to them and it is
their duty to keep them in good condition after each use.
thinking of the best interest of the learners under their care and one way of
showing this interest is maintaining of the school plant. The minds of staff
and students should be prepared by making them understand that they are one
family and that the structures in the school premises belong to them and it is
their duty to keep them in good condition after each use.
Principals should not give out any
part of the school plant for commercial use since the users are likely to cause
some damages which will take a lot to repair.
part of the school plant for commercial use since the users are likely to cause
some damages which will take a lot to repair.
The school managers should form
committee to take care of school plant on a regular basis and present a written
report to the school principal.
committee to take care of school plant on a regular basis and present a written
report to the school principal.
The community stake holders, if
approached, will participate in maintaining the school plant. Robbery of
properties on the school compound (for example, government girls secondary
school, Rumuokuta some years back) was discovered to have been done by some
boys from that community any time the school receives any new equipment. The
school principal decided to make a formal report to the stake holders who swung
into action and found the culprits and they made their parents replace those
items and repair the damages done to the principal’s office. That ended the
robbery case in that school for that period.
approached, will participate in maintaining the school plant. Robbery of
properties on the school compound (for example, government girls secondary
school, Rumuokuta some years back) was discovered to have been done by some
boys from that community any time the school receives any new equipment. The
school principal decided to make a formal report to the stake holders who swung
into action and found the culprits and they made their parents replace those
items and repair the damages done to the principal’s office. That ended the
robbery case in that school for that period.
The Parent-teachers-Association also
is a very powerful organ to use to ensure that school plant is maintained
regularly by making funds available. As we all know, lack of funds causes delay
of any project. When funds are provided, the skilled men/women should be
employed to swing into action for results to be achieved.
is a very powerful organ to use to ensure that school plant is maintained
regularly by making funds available. As we all know, lack of funds causes delay
of any project. When funds are provided, the skilled men/women should be
employed to swing into action for results to be achieved.
Principals should make it known to
school staff that no school property should be converted to private property.
This will surely prolong the life span of the property. If the school vehicle
is used to carry out official duty it will last for a long time, coupled with
regular servicing.
school staff that no school property should be converted to private property.
This will surely prolong the life span of the property. If the school vehicle
is used to carry out official duty it will last for a long time, coupled with
regular servicing.
There should be periodic inspection
and repairs of school plant so as to make teaching and learning worthwhile.
and repairs of school plant so as to make teaching and learning worthwhile.
Recommendations
Eye witness has shown that public
secondary schools are very important in raising the greater tomorrows, therefore,
effort should be put in maintaining the school plant for better teaching and
learning. It should be a collective effort so as to achieve success.
secondary schools are very important in raising the greater tomorrows, therefore,
effort should be put in maintaining the school plant for better teaching and
learning. It should be a collective effort so as to achieve success.
The acute shortage of finances, the
gross misappropriation of public funds and the misplaced priorities in the
education sector have made it impossible for adequate promotion of education.
gross misappropriation of public funds and the misplaced priorities in the
education sector have made it impossible for adequate promotion of education.
Public secondary schools in every
state of the nation carry a lot of population therefore the school plant should
be increased and updated to cue in with the technological learning. Teachers
should also be given in-service training on the use of the facilities (ICT) and
its maintenance.
state of the nation carry a lot of population therefore the school plant should
be increased and updated to cue in with the technological learning. Teachers
should also be given in-service training on the use of the facilities (ICT) and
its maintenance.