POST OCCUPANCY EVALUATION OF HOSTEL FACILITIES IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OFFA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study evaluated the post occupancy evaluation of hostel facilities in Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State with a view to determine factors that promote users’ satisfaction with the hostel facilities in terms of services/amenities provided, structural features, environmental features, accommodation details and locational attributes. The hostels are wholly under the management and control of the Polytechnic Authority. Data for the study was obtained from Directorate of Students Affair. Four Hundred and Sixty (460) respondents comprising of the students occupying the Hostels, and the management staffs of the hostels specifically, 28 structured questionnaires were administered to the management staffs in charge of the hostels while 432 structured questionnaires were administered to the students occupying the school hostels. A total of 341 (75%) questionnaires was returned and found valid for analysis. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistical techniques such as frequency distribution table, weighted mean score and relative satisfaction index. Findings revealed that there were mixed levels of satisfaction with elements of student hostels’ facilities. There was a strong indication of satisfaction with the environmental features compared to the other four elements of the hostel facilities. Also, among the findings of the research are rapid increase in student’s population, students are careless handling the available few facilities and inadequate facilities usage information is a challenge faced by the hostel management staffs in the management of the hostel facilities. The study recommends that the Polytechnic management should ensure that facilities that aid students' academic performance should be prioritized. This will help to improve the satisfaction level among students with hostel facilities.