School Furniture, Equipment, and Other Facilities

1. School Plant Management (Educ. 265)
Chapter IV
School Furniture, Equipment, and Other Facilities
Reporter: Elma C. Gapusan
Instructor:Dr. Paulino Reomero

2. a. SCHOOL SEATS
 The importance of good seating cannot be overlooked since the school children
usually spend significant part of their time in school in a sitting position.
 Good seating is necessary for comfort and good posture and is crucial to the proper
physical development of the child.

3. Good Seating characterized as follows:
a.Seat height shall be constructed that the child’s feet are
flat on the floor
b.The backrest provides support to the lumbar region of the
child’s back
c.There is clearance of from three to four inches between
the front edge of the seat and the inside angle of the knee
d.The seat slope slightly backward
e.The surface of the desk or table overlaps the seat by three
to four inches.

4.  f.There is sufficient leg space between the seat and the
underside of the desk or table.
Seat dimensions for good fit are usually determined
according to the following specifications:
a.Seat height is equal, more or less, to the lower leg
height.
b.Seat depth shall be 50 mm short of the upper leg
measurement.
c.Seat width shall be reasonably wider than hip width.
d.Backrest height shall be as high as the last lumbar
vertebra.
e.Seat inclination may be from three to five degrees.
f.Backrest to seat angle may be from 95 to 115
degrees.

5. B. SCHOOL TABLES
 School tables are designed according to its use or function.
1.Table height
a. There shall be sufficient clearance between the underside of the
tabletop and the seat of the chair to allow comfortable space for the
thighs of the seated person.
b.The tabletop shall be level with the elbows of the seated person.
c.For visual comfort, it shall be possible for the seated person to
work with his eyes at the near point, that is, the nearest distance at
which the eye can focused without strain.
d.The part-body measurements that are considered in determining
table height are elbow height, thigh, thickness, and eye height.

6.  2. Tabletop are is determined according to its purpose
(teachers tables, library tables and other) and the part-
body measurements of the person working on it.
a. Comfortable reach forward may be taken sweeping
sideways both hands as for forward as possible without
touching the near end of the table.
b.Maximum reach forward may be determined by
sweeping both hands as far forward as possible while leaning
against the table edge.

7. C. Storage and Display
Furniture for storing and displaying
materials, supplies and equipment is
as essential as seats and tables in any
school. Commonly use in public schools
for storage and display are( bookcases,
cupboards, cabinets, shelves, and
divans)

8.  The design and standard measurements of storage and
display furniture may be determined according to the
following guidelines.
a. The zone convenience shall be considered. According to
energy conservation studies, this refers to the are
between to lower and upper limits for shelves within
which it convenient to place things on them and beyond
which there will be a need to exert greater effort.
b. Total furniture height may be calculated according to the
highest point which a child can reach with stretched arm
in relation to what he can see from a standing position.
c. The highest shelf shall be not more than 1.2 times higher
than the mean height of users.
d. Ordinarily, shelving may be spaced at intervals of 30
centimeters.

9. D. SCHOOL EQUIPMENT
 Educational facilities, which have a normal life span of two to
five years, are classified. The different kinds of school
equipment used as prescribed by the (COA) in elementary and
secondary are categorized as follows;
 EPP/TLE Equipment
-Shop/ Industrial Arts Tools
-Home Economics Utensils
-Garden Tools

10.  Instructional Tools and Devices
-Science apparatuses
-Playground equipment
-Office Equipment
-Mathematics Gadgets
Health Equipment
-Medical equipment
-Dental equipment
-Clinic equipment

11. Every school/office shall be equipped with a Survival Kit
consisting of a lightweight bag in red color
marked “Safe Ka Ba?” to contain the following:
• Water in soft, plastic container (½ gallon for drinking and
½ gallon for food preparation and cleaning per
person, per day). Stock water for at least 3 days’ supply.
• Food-lightweight, compact, easy to cook and prepare
- canned goods (meat, fruit or vegetables)
- canned/powdered/crystallized juice

12. - rice/noodles
- canned/powdered milk
- food for those with special diet
- Vitamins

13. • First Aid Kit
- triangular bandages
- scissors/blade/needle and thread
- antiseptic/alcohol/cotton
- safety pins/tweezors/medicine droppers
- soap, gloves
- medicines
* for fever, headache, body pains
* for diarrhea/stomach ache
* for cough
* eye wash

14. • Other items
- garbage cans, plastic sheeting, plastic food containers
- radio (transistor), batteries/flashlight
- can opener, knife
- matches (wrapped in water-proofed material)/lighter
- toilet paper, small towels (towelletes)
- sanitary napkins (for ladies)
- shovel (pala)/plastic pail
- disinfectant
- whistle

15. E. FITTINGS, FIXTURES and FURNISHINGS
The location of the doorknobs, switches, sockets,
convenience outlets, locks and other fixtures and fittings
shall
be within the reach of the school children. Height of the
sinks, lavatories, toilet bowls, urinals and faucets shall be
adjusted for children’s use. Generally, the proper height of
most fittings and fixtures shall be about half of the mean
standing height of the children.

16. F. INSTRUCTIONAL DEVICES
Instructional devices comprise the wide range and variety of
educational media and technology such as visual
aids, audiovisual aids, teaching aids and devices, and the
like, which are indispensable tools for effective teaching and
learning. These instructional devices provide the child with
various experiences, which make learning more stimulating,
meaningful and permanent.

17. 1. Types of Instructional Devices. The common types of instructional
devices, traditionally known as teaching aids and
devices, are: objects and specimens (or realia), models and mock-ups,
(globes, dolls, etc.) dioramas, pictures (drawings, sketches, illustrations,
photographs, paintings), posters, graphs, charts and diagrams (maps),
flashcards, cartoons,
comic strips, chalkboard, bulletin board, sand table, tack board, flannel
board, magnetic board, electric board, aquarium, terrarium, etc.
a. Audio Visual Equipment
The latest types of instructional materials are creations of modern
technology, which are utilized as audio visual
aids in teaching. Audiovisual aids consist of the machines (or hardware)
and their corresponding materials (or software)
as follows:

18.  Hardware /Software
 Slide projector Slides
 Filmstrip projector Filmstrips
 Slide/Filmstrip projector Movie camera
 Mini disk
 Memory Stick
 Movie projector Movie films
 Overhead projector Transparencies
 Tape recorder Tape recordings
 Radio Broadcasts
 Television Telecasts/telecine
 Video machine, CD, VCD,
 DVD Player Videotapes/CD/VCD/
 DVD
 Computer set Computer programs

19. b. Proper Utilization of Instructional Devices. Instructional devices are effective
when they are properly planned,
selected and utilized.
(1) Planning
1.1 Consider the objectives
1.2 Identify the instructional materials needed to supplement existing materials
1.3 Produce the needed materials
(2) Selection shall be done on the basis of the following:
2.1 They shall contribute meaningful content to the topic under study
2.2 They shall influence the learner to develop critical thinking.
2.3 They shall contribute to the development of good human relations through the
inculcation of sound
moral and ethical values.
2.4 They shall give a true picture of the idea they present.
2.5 They shall be attractive.
2.6 They shall be appropriate for the age, intelligence and experience of the learner.

20. (3) Utilization
3.1 The teacher must be familiar with the different types of instructional devices
available in the school
and must know the proper techniques of using them.
3.2 The class must be prepared for the use of the instructional devices through
proper motivation,
clearing up of difficulties, etc.
3.3 The classroom must be set up properly for the use of the instructional
devices.
3.4 The instructional devices must be an integral part of the teaching
procedures. They are most
effective when used in combination.
3.5 The use of instructional devices shall be properly evaluated.

21. c. Multi-Media Materials/Equipment
The following guidelines shall be observed when showing
projected materials using multi-media equipment or
devices.
a. The screen shall be so placed that its bottom edge is
approximately at the eye-level of the seated pupils/
students to provide the best vision.
b. The seats shall be arranged within the recommended
viewing area, which is a 60-degree angle from the
center of the screen.

22. c. The distance of the front seats from the screen shall be less than
twice the width of the screen; that of
the last or back row of seats shall not exceed a maximum distance
equivalent to six times the width of the screen.
d. Light control, or room darkening, is necessary in the projection of
movie films, slides, and filmstrips.
e. The projector shall be placed at such a level that it would project
over the heads of the class.
f. The speaker shall be placed near the screen at ear-level of the seated
pupils/students and directed at the
center of the class.

23. G.REGULAR CLASSROOM FACILITIES
1. Basic Concepts. The classroom is a contained unit of learning space. To be
effective, it must be designed such that
spaces and facilities reflect the educational processes and activities that take
place in them.
Every classroom shall be suitably structured and decorated to make the
surroundings of pupils/students conducive to learning. The materials for
structuring and decorating shall be selected on the basis of their educational
value providing opportunities for class discussions. Likewise, its cleanliness and
orderliness must be maintained, the fact that this is vital aspect contributing to
the educational growth of the pupils/students.

24. 2. Standard Facilities. The minimum furniture and equipment requirements for a
regular classroom are:
Furniture Quantity
Tables with 2 chairs
with all wood/or non-wood
based materials for grades I-IV 25 sets
Tables with 2 chairs
with all wood/or non-wood
based materials for grades V-VI 25 sets
or Tablet armchairs
with all wood/or non-wood
based materials for grades V-VI 50 units
Tablet Armchairs with all wood/or non-wood
based materials for First to Fourth Year 50 units
Teacher’s Table with chair 1 set

25.  Chalkboard, framed, wall type
with ledge 4 ft. x 8 feet) 3 units
 Teacher’s cabinet 1 unit
 Hand washing facility 1 unit
 Drinking jar/container, with faucet 1 unit
 Water pail 1 unit
 Divan (with storage space for
cleaning materials) 1 unit
 Trash can 1 unit
 Bulletin board 2 units
 Filing/Storage cabinet 1 unit
 DepED Forms Rack 1 unit
 Utility box 1 unit
 Chart stand 1 unit
 First Aid Cabinet 1 unit

26. 3. Classroom Structuring. The regular classroom may be ideally structured in the
following manner:
a. At the entrance to the room, a signboard is posted, showing the following
identification:
(Grade/Year and Section occupying the room)
(Name of teacher handling the class)
b. A framed copy of the class program is displayed on the door to the classroom at
adult eye-level.
c. On the front wall (that is, the wall facing the class), the classroom chalkboards,
properly framed and provided
with chalk ledge and curtains, are installed at a height which is in accordance with
the maximum comfortable
reach of the children to the top of the board. (The proper height of the chalkboard
from the floor to its top-edge
is determined by multiplying the mean standing height of the class by the constant
1.2.) This constant is the
result of studies conducted on the portion of the standing height to the normal reach
of the hand over the head
of the individual.)

27. d. Above the chalkboard, a framed portrait of the President of the Philippines
shall be displayed prominently at
the center, flanked on one side at a lower level by a framed motto (for the
month or week) and on the other side
by a framed picture preferably relevant to the motto. In Grades I and II, framed
perception strips are displayed
along the top edge (or frame) of the chalkboard, while framed conceptualizing
strips are displayed along the
bottom-edge of the chalk ledge. The bulletin boards and tack boards, as well as
charts, may be placed on the
walls at the sides or at the back of the room. They shall be placed at the same
height as the chalkboards.
e. The attendance chart and the DepED forms rack are placed near the door.
f. The teacher’s table, chair and cabinet are located at the rear of the room.

28. g. One corner of the room is set up as a reading corner. Another corner of the
room is set up as a health corner
and provided with a first aid or medicine cabinet with mirror, soap dish, towel
rack, and hand washing and
drinking facilities.
h. The seating arrangement of the pupils/students shall be flexible, depending
upon the needs or activities of
the class.
DepED Order 118, S. 2009 (dated December 15, 2009) contains the Prescribed List
of Science and Mathematics
Equipment, Laboratory Glassware and Consumables for All Year Levels of
Elementary and Secondary Subjects

29. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!