TREE PLANTING AROUND THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND THERMAL COMFORT OF STUDENTS: A PANACEA FOR IMPROVED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENTS

This study examined tree planting around the school buildings and thermal comfort of students as a panacea for improved academic engagements. The learning environment plays a crucial role in shaping students’ academic performance, well-being, and overall engagement in school activities In the context of carrying out this research, the following subheads were expounded on: the concept of tree planting, the concept of school buildings, and the concept of thermal comfort, to mention a few. The study mentioned the effect of tree planting around the school buildings on students improved academic engagements to include enhanced thermal comfort/concentration, reduced stress/mental fatigue, and improved air quality/cognitive functioning, to mention but a few. The effect of thermal comfort of students on their academic engagements, as highlighted in the study, included improved concentration/cognitive performance and enhanced participation/classroom engagement, among many others. Limited space for tree planting and slow growth/long-term nature of trees, etc., were mentioned as the challenges encountered in planting trees to enhance thermal comfort and improve academic engagements of students in school buildings. The mitigation to the challenges of planting trees to enhance thermal comfort and improve academic engagements of students in school buildings as mentioned in the study included maximising available space with strategic tree planting and choosing fast-growing and resilient tree species. The study concluded that tree planting around school buildings is a vital strategy for enhancing students' thermal comfort, well-being, and academic engagement. One of the recommendations made was that schools should incorporate tree planting as a fundamental part of infrastructure development.