Application of Linear Growth Model on Students’ Enrolment for Expected Classroom Space with Social Distancing in Federal Polytechnic Offa (A Case Study of Main Campus)

This study examined the projection of student enrolment into Federal Polytechnic Offa and to determine the required space (m2) in accordance to COVID – 19 social distancing sitting arrangement. The intake of new students into tertiary institutions in Nigeria continues to be on the increase as many candidates apply yearly for admission due to rapid increase in population and lack of sustainable job for unskilled workers. The study considered the three schools in the polytechnic main campus; School of Communication Technology, School of Environmental Studies and School of Business Management Studies. The data of student enrolment for 2016/2017 to 2018/2019 session was collected from the polytechnic and the projection of students' enrolment was carried out using Arithmetic (linear) growth model. The analysis revealed that the highest increase of projected students' enrolment for 2019/2020 session for NDI was from Accountancy with 221 students and the lowest was Urban and Regional Planning with 24 students. Whereas the highest for HNDI was Mass Communication with 477 students and the lowest was Marketing with 57 students. The number of students in a class according to NBTE standard is 30 in a standard class of 75m2 which is now for 18 students due to COVID -19. The space requirement for students in NDI Accountancy, for instance, is 900m2 which is equivalent to 12 classes in compliance with social/physical distancing. The projection of students' enrolment will help the stakeholders to make provision for adequate classroom space in and post COVID -19 period.