Post Occupancy Evaluation of Some Selected Secondary Schools in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Post Occupancy Evaluation involves systematic evaluation of opinion about buildings in use, through careful analysis of buildings, its facilities and surroundings, from all relevant viewpoints particularly the users of the buildings. It assesses how well buildings match users’ needs and assists them in realising the potential and limitations of their buildings. That is, it identifies ways to improve building design, performance and fitness for purpose. Thus, this paper presents the results of research into facilities of secondary schools in Minna, using Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) approach. Two sets of questionnaires were prepared and administered to the schools’ principals and randomly to the teachers and students. The research results indicate that (i) inadequate laboratory and sporting facilities, poor landscaping and overcrowded classrooms are found to be major problems in many schools. (ii) Provisions for sanitary toilet facilities, especially for students in most cases are grossly inadequate and in poor state of disrepair. (iii) the top five well performing schools are all private secondary schools excluding one owned by the Federal Government, while the remaining are State Government owned schools, and (iv) public schools are far less well maintained than private ones. Suggested remedies to these problems were proffered.

Keywords: Building Design, Maintenance, Post-Occupancy Evaluation, Secondary School