An Evaluation of Built Environment Students’ Training in Building Maintenance (A Case Study of Federal Polytechnics in Osun State, Nigeria)

Aims: This study is aimed at evaluating the training acquired by built environment students in maintenance courses to determine areas of training inadequacy and improvements. This is achieved by identifying of learning outcomes in maintenance courses acquired by built environment students, accessing the level of competence in training maintenance courses, and the barriers to the competence in the training maintenance courses.

Study Design: The study adopted a quantitative analysis technique, relative important index (RII) was used to analyze the data collected. In other to determine the reliability of the data collected, the study sought information on the learning outcome of students in maintenance specifically, student competence area in the training of maintenance, and the barrier to student competence in the maintenance training.

Place and Duration of Study: Data is collected through well-structured questionnaires administered to the selected department in the built environment in Federal Polytechnic Ede. 100 questionnaires were administered, while 90 were duly completed and returned for analysis.

Data Analysis: The data was analyzed using Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS) and an excel statistical package for prediction.

Results: The observed that built environment students are not sufficiently trained in some topics in the Building maintenance courses. Also, students are not competent in the ability to prepare documents for work alteration, maintenance of high rise building and estate roads. The major barriers to the competence of students in building maintenance are lack practical in maintenance, the lack of student’s interest in the course, lack of conducive environment and limited time for learning.

Conclusion: The study concluded that Built environment Students did not receive adequate training in building maintenance courses and recommended that sufficient time should be allocated to carryout practical works in building maintenance and the adoption of training methods to enhance the learning and competency of students in carrying out maintenance work.