Estate Management of Educational Real Estate: Analysis of School Property Management in Private Schools in Oyo State

This study examines the management of educational real estate in the private school sector in Oyo State, South West Nigeria, evaluating how school owners and managers maintain and develop their physical property assets to support educational quality, student wellbeing, and institutional financial sustainability. Private schools in Nigeria represent a significant but understudied segment of the educational real estate market, where property management decisions directly influence learning environment quality and competitive positioning in an increasingly quality-conscious education market. The study employs a cross-sectional survey combined with physical property condition assessment across 20 private secondary schools in Ibadan and Ogbomosho, representing diverse fee categories. Data were collected through structured interviews with school proprietors or estate managers, review of maintenance records, and physical condition scores using an adapted educational facility condition index. Assessment dimensions include building structural condition, utility systems maintenance, sports and recreational facilities, sanitation standards, and accessibility provisions. Findings reveal significant correlations between school fee levels and property management quality, with premium fee schools maintaining better building condition, more reliable utilities, and dedicated facilities management staff. Budget allocation for property maintenance averages below 3 percent of total school expenditure across the sample. Regulatory inspection of physical conditions by the Oyo State Ministry of Education covers fewer than 35 percent of private schools annually. Recommendations include establishing a private school physical standards compliance monitoring programme, providing property management capacity building support through the Oyo State Schools Association, and developing a model preventive maintenance plan for private secondary schools. Keywords: educational real estate, school property management, private schools, Oyo State, facility management.