The influence of availability and maintenance of school facilities on teaching and learning in Amajuba District secondary schools

Abstract

School facilities and facility management play a pivotal role in actualising the core purposes for which schools were established and designed. Successful schooling relies heavily on how school infrastructure and resources are managed and maintained within a specific school. While many scholars have written about school facility management in various contexts, little is known about school facility management in the context of the schools within the Amajuba District. Acknowledging the wealth of existing literature in other areas, this study focuses on the Amajuba District to fill a contextual gap regarding the relationship between the quality of school facilities and learners' academic achievement in three secondary schools in the Amajuba District. A qualitative study approach was adopted, using in-depth, one-on-one, face-to-face interviews as an instrument to collect data from nine participants. These participants were selected through the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Basic Education Senior Secondary Schools data base in the Amajuba District, with three schools and nine teachers were chosen randomly. The study used participants lived experiences to address the research questions. Using a narrative analysis approach, the findings of this study indicate that maintaining and managing school facilities is essential for safety, effective teaching and learning, inclusivity, and sustainability, while challenges such as lack of resources, inadequate training, poor budgeting, and insufficient accountability may hinder proper facility management and maintenance. Furthermore, the study identifies strategies for improving school facility maintenance such as learner engagement, budget planning, fundraising, rule enforcement, quality investments, and dedicated personnel. The importance of qualified custodial staff was also highlighted, although challenges with resource limitations and the need for further training remain.