Maintenance management of physical infrastructure in educational institutions: a systematic review

Abstract

The physical infrastructure of education in Latin America (LATAM) requires actions to ensure its conservation and maintenance in the different systems and levels. This is due to the absence of a maintenance programmed proposed by the State and the lack of trained personnel to implement it. The objective of this study was to analyze the importance of maintenance management of physical infrastructure in educational institutions. A systematic review was conducted following the guidelines of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) methodology. The search process was carried out in the Scopus, ERIC, and Web of Science (WoS) databases, and eligibility criteria were established. The review covered the time interval between 2015 and 2023, and 16 English-language papers were selected. The results indicate that the lack of adequate and sustained investment, together with the lack of scheduled maintenance of educational infrastructure and the absence of structured maintenance plans, have a negative impact on student achievement. It is necessary for national and local governments to develop public policies focused on the conservation and improvement of educational infrastructure, incorporating modern management tools to facilitate this process.