Abstract

Educational buildings are very crucial to the performance and satisfaction of its occupants since they are places for teaching and learning. A post occupancy evaluation of existing public schools could foster their improvement and services provided. This study focused on POE of Public Model Primary School Buildings in Rivers State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to evaluate end-users satisfaction, examine POE evaluating and verifying tool(s) adopted for effective maintenance, analyze derivable benefits from adopting POE and assess the inherent defects occurrence in the school buildings. The research design adopted was a cross sectional survey design. A total of 504 structured questionnaires were administered to the pupils, staff and parents (end-user) and 331 were retrieved representing 65.7% response rate. Samples were drawn from 12 schools in 6 Local Government Areas representing 25% of Local Government Areas in the State, and 2 schools from each Local Government Areas using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. End-users satisfaction was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. In addition, walkthrough observation and photograph were also utilized. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools. The study found that users were dissatisfied with most of the facilities such as library, ICT room, sickbay, auditorium, toilets, water supply, electricity supply, common areas and external areas of the schools. The study also showed that 70.4% of the respondents agreed that there are derivable benefits in adopting POE in public school buildings. POE is a vital tool needed to ensure the performance of public buildings and its facilities and to achieve environmental sustainability. The study recommended that POE is an innovative and effective tool to be used by Government for improving maintenance condition of public school buildings in Nigeria.