In the global context, the provision of high-quality education is contingent upon the effective management of educational infrastructure. The appropriate supervision of school infrastructures in both developed and developing nations has a direct impact on student learning outcomes, teacher performance, and overall academic success. The second-largest infrastructure sector globally is the K-12 public school system, as underlined by recent research. This highlights the significant contribution of well-maintained educational facilities to economic growth, as students who receive effective education earn substantially more throughout their lives. This reality underscores the significance of effective infrastructure management strategies, with a particular emphasis on the utilization of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds.
Despite the widely recognized significance of infrastructure management, educational systems worldwide face numerous obstacles. Many research identified significant discrepancies between the idealized institutional data management and its practical implementation, particularly in infrastructure supervision. In the Philippine context, these challenges are particularly apparent at the division level, where school leaders must balance the optimal utilization of resources with complex managerial responsibilities.
The severity of infrastructure management issues is evident in the diverse manifestations within school operations. The daily educational activities of schools have been recently affected by a variety of infrastructure-related concerns, including strategic resource allocation and fundamental facility maintenance. Data-driven decision-making in school infrastructure administration frequently encounters implementation challenges, particularly in resource-constrained environments. The absence of systematic infrastructure management approaches can lead to the potential for suboptimal utilization of MOOE funds, which could compromise educational quality and operational efficiency.
To address these obstacles, it is essential to implement strategic interventions and a comprehensive management engineering framework. To optimize the utilization of MOOE funds in terms of school operations, teachers’ welfare, and students’ welfare and development, comprehensive management strategies in infrastructure management that prioritize the adequacy of classroom facilities, water, sanitation, hygiene, electricity, and ICT access could be implemented. This could lead to improved educational outcomes, more effective resource allocation, and enhanced facility maintenance. These improvements would be advantageous to school administrators, teachers, pupils, and the broader academic community.
Through significant orders such as DepEd Order No. 008, s. 2019 and DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2016, the Department of Education (DepEd) has implemented a robust legal and policy framework for the administration of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) in all schools. The objective of these policies is to enhance the transparency and accountability of school operations by offering comprehensive guidelines on the direct release, utilization, monitoring, and reporting of MOOE funds. These policies ensure that infrastructure and operational requirements are met by establishing defined mechanisms, procedures, and standards for fund allocation and liquidation, thereby enabling schools to manage resources effectively.
