Abstract:
Since large public schools consist of facilities with numerous assets, proper management of these facilities is an essential task, especially as it relates to the issues of efficiency and safety. So far, comprehensive studies in the area of facility management are still lacking. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the characteristics and structure of the facility management departments, as well as their associated personnel, within large public schools. This study also aimed to examine the planning, administration, management and implementation of school facilities in six large public schools which were chosen as case studies, namely Nawaminthrachinuthit Bodindecha School, Triamudomsuksa Nomklao School, Horwang School, Sarawittaya School, Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School, and Satriwittaya 2 School. The present study was an empirical research which employed the methods of survey, observation, note taking and photographic records. In addition, semi-structured interviews were also conducted with the administrative and operational personnel of the six schools. From the study, it was found that all of the six schools had designated a department to be in charge of facility management. However, no personnel were hired directly for this area of work. Some of the teaching staff was assigned to be responsible for facility management in each of these six schools. Furthermore, there was no written policy in terms of facility management. It was also found that there were five main areas which fell under the responsibility of facility management departments. These were maintenance, housekeeping, landscape and gardening, venue and equipment preparation, and decoration. Maintenance was the main responsibility found in all case studies although various other areas were also found. Additionally, it was found that security was not considered a responsibility of the facility management departments. This was because these schools tended to place an emphasis on personal security. Facilities and assets were only looked after when they were not being used. The majority of the implementation plans for facility management were daily operational plans which covered a period of one year. Operational personnel in the area of facility management in all case studies had more than one responsibility to fulfill.It can be concluded from this study that most public schools still lacked knowledgeable personnel that can be placed in charge of facility management as well as a specific policy for it. They also focused on responsive measures rather than a preventive approach. The recommendation of the present study is that public schools should issue specific policies for facility management and assign knowledgeable personnel to be in charge so that the management of school facilities and assets will be more efficient, resulting in reduced expenditures.