OPTIMIZATION OF OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPES IN SELECTED NIGERIAN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS: A DESIGN AND SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63746/njtd.v23i1.4287Keywords:
Educational Infrastructure, Landscape Optimization, Affordance Theory, Participatory Design, Sustainable Schoolyards, Learning Environments, NigeriaAbstract
Outdoor school landscapes are critical infrastructural systems that provide essential behavioral affordances for children’s holistic development. However, in many developing contexts such as Nigeria, these environments remain under-designed and pedagogically underutilized. This study presents a systematic, multi-method appraisal of the composition and utilization of outdoor landscapes in public primary schools across North-Central Nigeria. Employing field observations across twelve schools and semi-structured interviews with sixteen educational stakeholders, we evaluated landscape provision against functional, social, and pedagogical criteria. Findings reveal a dominant design paradigm prioritizing security and circulation, with severe deficiencies in intentional learning-oriented spaces such as experimental gardens, sensory zones, and diverse play equipment. Statistical analysis indicated no significant regional variation in general landscape composition (F(3, 48) = 0.33, p=.776), but significant disparities in play equipment provision (F(3, 60) = 4.00, p=.015), highlighting inequitable resource allocation. Thematic analysis uncovered a strong latent demand among educators for multifunctional, ecologically integrated designs that support experiential learning. Synthesizing affordance theory, ecological systems theory, and landscape architectural principles, this study advances an integrated framework for schoolyard optimization. We conclude with evidence-based design and policy recommendations aimed at transforming these underutilized spaces into engineered, child-centered learning ecosystems that support sustainable development goals, offering a replicable model for assessment and participatory redesign in resource-constrained contexts.
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