A clean school does not just promote a healthy environment. It can also contribute to the academic success of students. A study conducted by the Center for Facilities Research at APPA revealed the correlation between the academic achievements of the students and the cleanliness of school facilities.
2. A clean school does not just promote a healthy environment. It can also contribute to the
academic success of students. A study conducted by the Center for Facilities Research at
APPA revealed the correlation between the academic achievements of the students and the
cleanliness of school facilities.
Cleanliness and Its Impact on Students
The national study polled 1,481 college students to find out if there is a connection between
academic success and the five levels of APPA cleanliness, namely Orderly Spotlessness
(Level 1), Ordinary Tidiness (Level 2), Casual Inattention (Level 3), Moderate Dinginess
(Level 4), and Unkempt Neglect (Level 5). Around 88 percent of the students surveyed said
that a lack of cleanliness becomes distracting at APPA levels 3 and 4. Nearly 84 percent said
they strongly preferred surroundings with an APPA level 1 or 2 of cleanliness for a positive
learning environment.
APPA President Alan Bigger says that limiting cleaning services negatively affects students.
He adds that since the recruitment and retention of students are the means of support for
higher learning institutions, they would do well to prioritize this matter. Students may look
for other educational institutions if they are not provided with a clean and comfortable
environment that they need.
3. Keeping Schools Clean
Dave Mesko, Senior Director of Marketing and Strategy for a cleaning company, says that
maintaining a clean and safe environment for students can enhance student performance
and bring down absenteeism rates. Given Mesko’s statement, there are ways to keep the
cleanliness level of schools in top condition.
One way is to improve the school’s air quality. Facility managers can place mats in high
traffic zones and entrances of the school to keep dirt and dust from spreading inside the
building. The regular maintenance of air conditioning units can also improve indoor air
quality and prevent triggering allergies and worsening asthma.
Enforcing a cleaning and disinfecting program can safeguard facilities against diseases that
flourish during the winter months. Using microfiber towels and mops, for instance, can
eradicate harmful viruses and decrease the risk of cross-contamination.
The APPA study recommends that higher education institutions form their own levels of
cleanliness because a clean environment promotes student learning.
