Importance of Facilities Management in Educational Institutions

The school facilities for all types of buildings for academic and non-academic activities require facilities management. Facilities for academic and non-academic activities include, areas for sports and games, farms and gardens including trees, landscape, roads and paths, and rooms etc. Others facilities include furniture, lighting, acoustics, storage facilities and toilet facilities, security, transportation, ICT, food services, and special facilities for the physically challenged persons, cleaning materials, etc.

Facilities play major role in the actualization of the school goals and objectives by satisfying the physical and emotional needs of the staff and students of the school.

a. Building Maintenance Services
These services include General Building Repairs, Roof Leaks, Building Locks, Outside Vendor Services, Outside Vendor Performance Contracts, HVAC Maintenance, Ventilation system, HVAC System Operation, Automated Environmental Controls, Security Monitoring Services, Fire Alarm System Monitoring, Fire Alarm Suppression System etc.

b. Management processes
Management Process which involve planning, organizing, decision making, leading, coordinating and controlling are applied in facilities management. Broadened educational goals and objectives as a result of changes in socio-economic development have necessitated the involvement of several minds in the facilities management process.

• Contribute to an educational institution’s instructional effectiveness and financial well being.
• Improve the cleanliness, orderliness, security and safety of an educational institution’s facilities.
• Reduce the building operational and life cycle costs.
• It helps the staff deal with limited resources.
• Increase energy efficiency and reduce wastage for safe environment.

c. Information
School managers may not have qualitative and quantitative information on facilities. Quantitative data involves nature and condition of facilities, nature of present use and possible future use. Qualitative data involves room configuration, ventilation systems, windows, lighting, access to support facilities, condition of furniture, space for equipment including specific discipline related requirements. Facilities managers analyze that data and maintain facilities based on their decisions.

d. Security Facilities Management
Quality education means not only providing education but also keeping them safe in school environment. This means protecting them from predators, eliminating hazards like drugs, alcohol and keeping weapons off campus, etc.

In the context of the school, facilities management plays a very important role as a school has vast infrastructure and numerous activities to perform.