According to Emetarom, (2014),educational facilities are material resources in the school which are physical and spatial enablers of teaching and learning which will increase the production of results. When combined with other resources in adequate quality and quantity, constitutes vital inputs for achieving desired educational goals. Owuamanam,(2015) noted that the inadequacy of infrastructural facilities is one of the major problems facing the Nigeria education system. Nwadiani, (2012) is also of the opinion that infrastructural facilities in public schools in Nigeria are inadequate leading to poor utilization. Studies on physical facilities in public schools have revealed that what is on ground in most public schools, both at the higher and lower levels is a far cry from the recommended benchmark for the provision of infrastructural facilities in these schools. Akinkugbe(2016) revealed that everywhere you look, primary, secondary, special, technical, tertiary institution, there is abundant evidence of crippling inertia, criminal neglect and a pervasive decay in value and standard.
The quality and quantity of facilities have impact on educational outcomes, as well as well-being of students and teachers. This perhaps necessitated the interest by many scholars, researchers, administrators and educational planners in this area. The consensus of opinion among them is that educational facilities in Nigeria Public schools are inadequate due to astronomical increase in school enrolment.
The onus of managing school facilities rests on school administration in conjunction with other stakeholders whose responsibilities among many others is to ensure that facilities are working efficiently for utmost learning achievement. At the building school level, Ehiametalor in Nwagwu et al(2015), assert that among other responsibilities, school administrators at the school building have a responsibilities to keep records of plans, checks on facilities and how often maintenance is effected either to buildings or equipment. Without this information, type of materials required, materials used and cost cannot be ascertained. Adequate management as regards documentation, planning, implementation and evaluation is part of their responsibilities. If facilities are well managed, they would be safe from danger, disaster and theft. Effective management of educational facilities entails provision of facilities by ensuring proper procurement of good quality materials, serving as an advisory agent to government and other stakeholders on the type of facilities needed.
The school plants according to Udoh (2016) is the interpretation of the school curriculum. One of the ways in which curriculum finds its physical expression through the construction and internal arrangement of school plant. For more importance should be attach to the impact of plants facilities on educational experiences and educational methods used within the school building. Therefore an effective school plant is a controlled environmental condition which assist the teaching and learning process, and at the same time protects the physical well-being of the occupants.
Udoh(2016) further emphasized that the problem of making available more appropriate buildings and other physical aids for schools has been generally acute. More and more pupils of school age enter schools, while little expansion in buildings and facilities has taken place. It is therefore imperative that improvement is made in the provision of physical facilities in the schools for the following reasons:
b) Building that are unsafe or unsuitable for modern educational purposes and processes must be replaced by safe and modern ones.
c) A new ‘’openness’’ about educational purposes and processes is gathering momentum. Value questions are being asked in a greater degree now than before. What kind of education is necessary to combat unemployment among school leavers? How does the school attain excellence in teaching and in subject matter area? If excellence is to be developed, how much more can be spent in providing facilities that are both modern and adequate for the purposes they are to serve?
d) New social, political and educational demand is being impose on the schools and modern society. These demand have made the modernization of space and equipment pre- requisites of modern education.
Simon(2015),on steps in school plants planning explained that some or the major steps in obtaining a new school plants are as follow:
i. Analyse the educational needs of the community and the side on the future school programme. This will serve as a basis for evaluating existing facilities and for planning new or remodelled ones.
ii. Survey the whole school district of division to enable one to known that plans are available, their functional condition and how relevant they are still in carrying out their educational aims and objectives. This survey will also spotlight the members or students to be recommended now and in future, where there is overcrowding and will also help to be determined financial ability of the area which in turn will have direct influence on the properties in constructing the school houses and facilities needed.
iii. Select and acquire a site necessary to carry out the approved plans resulting from the survey. It is important to avoid, as much as possible, acquiring site near area that are likely to grow rapidly in commercial and industrial activities, and therefore frustrate future expansion.
