International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE)
ISSN: 2277-3878, Volume-8, Issue-2S2, July 2019
22
Published By:
Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering
& Sciences Publication
Retrieval Number: B10050782S219/19©BEIESP
DOI: 10.35940/ijrte.B1005.0782S219
Abstract: This paper focus point is common building defects
that usually give result instead of the negative impacts on the
teaching and learning environment school buildings in Malaysia.
An overview of common defects is involved in the school
building, which will facilitate a comparative school building
performance. The study stated the failure to control the critical
defects in the school building and then concluded that they are
affecting the teaching and learning environment. Thus, this study
aimed to identify the building defects that commonly happen in
school buildings in Malaysia. Next, identified the critical
elements of school building involved in defects. It also analyzed
the effect of school building defects towards the teaching and
learning environment. A literature review was conducted to
analysis the common building defects involved at the school
building. Beside, this paper reviewed, summarized, and discussed
the common building defects that usually happen in the school
buildings and the effect to the teaching and learning
environment. The survey instruments used in this study were
random questionnaire distribution to fifty (50) respondents and
interview with ten (10) teachers. The findings had shown that
major defects in the school buildings are peeling paint,
dampness, and cracked wall. The finding revealed that school
building defects mostly affected students’ concentration and
attendance where it found from the majority of interview
participants, thereby giving a direct impact on the environment of
teaching and learning. This paper provides the current
information, knowledge and findings that related with common
types of school building defects that may affect students’
performance. Therefore, it will assist the school building
management, building facilities and other professionals to clarify
the specific building defects more early based on the current
findings.
Keywords: Building Defects, Environmental, Facilities,
Learning Space, School Condition
Revised Manuscript Received on June 22, 2019.
Norsafiah Norazman, Department of Architecture, Faculty of
Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
Bangi 43600 Malaysia
Siti Nurul Asma’ Mohd Nashruddin, Department of Architecture,
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia, Bangi 43600 Malaysia
Adi Irfan Che Ani, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering
and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600
Malaysia
Norhaslina Jaa’far, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering
and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600
Malaysia
Muhamad Azry Khoiry, Department of Civil & Structural, Faculty of
Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
Bangi 43600 Malaysia
I. INTRODUCTION
School buildings are the environment in which the
teaching and learning process unfolds among teachers and
students. The condition of a school building is more
correlated to student performance than other influential
factors such as family background, socioeconomic status or
financial, school attendance, and behaviour. On the other
hand, National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities also
found out that poor condition of school facilities will affect
academic achievement [24].
Statistics (NCES) reported that 48% of teachers
transferred to another location of school and 39% switched
professions because their workplace is lacking of
management facilities and is poor in terms of comfort level.
Improving the school facilities and environmental condition
may also give more benefits to the teachers or supporting
staff by increasing their morale and reduce absenteeism and
turnover, indirectly leads to student achievement [18].
The implications for health, teaching and learning process
of students who spend time in the school building are based
on the decision about the location a school is built, design of
building structure, method of construction, the facilities
installed and school policies, and programs that are
implemented. To ensure the functioning of all school
facilities such as air conditioning, fans, chairs and tables,
lighting and others, the school facility management
department has to be ready with a monthly record for
assessing the facilities’ condition in a proper system. Any
updating of facility items and maintenance or repair
normally will be recorded by following the standards and
guideline [34].
However, the poor condition of school building
performance is not only caused by unmaintained facilities
but also critical building defects that always affect the
building performance and the teaching and learning process.
According to the building condition assessment conducted
in the school building as recorded, a total of 4,275 defects
were identified at Kuching, which include components of
walls, floor, doors, fittings, windows, and ceiling; however,
from the assessment, school building cracks has the highest
percentage of defects which is about 16.2%. Large number
of school building cracks is due to functionality in the walls
and floor as a major component of a building itself [1].
School Building Defects: Impacts Teaching and
Learning Environment
Norsafiah Norazman, Siti Nurul Asma’ Mohd Nashruddin, Adi Irfan Che Ani, Norhaslina
Jaa’far, Muhamad Azry Khoiry