School Cleanliness Why Important

school-cleanliness
School cleanliness affects the academic progress of the student over a year by as much as 25 per cent.

School cleanliness is an essential ingredient for student's academic success and overall staff wellbeing. Several studies consistently revealed the correlation between school cleanliness and increased students and teachers welfare and productivity. Classroom environment affects the academic progress of the student over a year by as much as 25 per cent. It is well-recognised that school building maintenance practices such as moisture control, ventilation and air flow, are essential in maintaining the quality of the indoor school environment. However, school cleanliness ranked as the fourth most crucial building element to impact the students’ academic performance and success.

School cleanliness reduces the cases of asthma among elementary students by 65% when the quality of the indoor school environment was improved, according to the studies of Meng (2012) and Jackson (2016). A similar study in New Zealand concludes that a classroom’s design had the same influence on student’s test scores as their teacher.

These studies confirm that while investing in ‘what’ to teach to students and ‘who’ is teaching them is important, it is equally important to invest in school cleanliness. Classrooms are ‘where’ students’ learning is taking place. Hence, school cleaning maintenance is paramount to get the most out of education investment. School cleanliness can push Australia’s students towards achieving their academic potential.

Uncleanliness in educational facilities affects students in the following areas:

School Cleanliness and Attendance 

When students are prone to sickness, chances are they will be absent from school most of the time. Moreover, chronic absenteeism can be extremely detrimental to student performance. When students miss many class sessions, they may begin to fall behind their peers.

School Cleanliness and Concentration

A dirty classroom can be a significant learning distraction. The more untidy the classroom becomes, learning distraction increases. Students do not need the extra distraction while they are trying to learn.

School Cleanliness and Performance

Unhygienic learning environment adversely affects student’s overall academic performance. The uncleanness of classrooms has a negative impact on students’ health, attendance, and concentration. It can hinder students’ overall ability to perform successfully.

School cleanliness does not only affect students. There is also a positive correlation between a clean environment and teachers’ achievements. A clean school means less stressful working environment for teachers. The better the teaching environment, the better a teacher performs. The better the teachers perform, the better the students learn. Hence, according to research, ten school days missed by an experienced teacher is equivalent to a student being taught by an inexperienced teacher.

Thus, keeping the school clean can help prevent students and teachers getting sick and absent. It will provide the students to keep in-tract with their studies while enhancing teachers’ productivity and well-being.