April 25, 2009

It is true that a school has lots of problems to take into consideration just like if the number of teachers, classrooms, and computers is enough. Thus, school repair and maintenance may not be considered as a major priority, and its value is disregarded.

It is believed that the school is our second home. There are even days when spend more time being in school than at home. So it is very important to keep it in good shape as much as possible. Who would want to stay in a classroom with a roof that leaks and with walls that have chipped paint? How uncomfortable it would be if after hours of football practice you find out that the shower does not work properly?

It is certainly an accepted reality that the school is one vital institution in our society as it is where we are molded to be productive citizens. One of the things that should be done to create a school a place conducive for learning is to go through a regular school repair and maintenance. It would not hurt if the government coordinated with school authorities and talked about the right budget for this concern. In the end, it is a long-term investment. It is from schools where the would-be leaders will be coming from. It is from these educational institutions where would-be doctors, teachers, lawyers, journalists, and so on will be coming from. Mostly, the future of the country and the world for the most part rely on these schools.

There are actually companies that offer services for the maintenance as well as repair of buildings and structures such as schools, and they can help prevent this so-called “sick-building syndrome”. What happens is that the performance of people who are staying or working in a place that is suffering from poor indoor quality, improper heating and ventilation and other structural deficiencies, are negatively affected. Health problems can take place, and worse, these people may lose their motivation and enthusiasm. We do not want the students to lose interest in learning just because of these physical deficiencies, do we?

Furthermore, there are other buildings aside from schools that get plagued by the passing of time as well as the forces of nature, and these include churches. Church restoration and repair must also be given importance. A church is not just a structure, but it is a holy and spiritual place. A church is as a vital institution in the society as the school. But one challenge in renovating and restoring a church is that it may be a shelter for some of the most valuable pieces of art. Whatever the concerns are, however, priority must be given to the preservation of buildings where people gather for important activities, just like the churches and schools.