WEBSITE DESIGN FOR PRE-ND PROCESSING IN THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA PORTAL

WEBSITE DESIGN FOR PRE-ND PROCESSING IN THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA PORTAL

(A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA)

ABSTRACT

This project is aimed to Design a Website for PRE-ND Processing in Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Portal. The portal is to aid in student applicant, admission processing and screening. Admission screening is one of the major activities carried out before been given admission into the institution. There are two major types of screening: manual and computerized (automated) method. Automated method helps to capture students data in which the information that has been entered, the administrator officer maintain the database, the proposed system is to eliminate the challenges inherent in the manual method of admission screening. The system can be developed using pre-hypertext Mark-up Processor (php) as the programming front end and MySQL database as the back end.     

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0     INTRODUCTION

Nowadays in education institution, the admission screening is based entirely on manual which is an important component after given an admission into an institution. In the admission procedure, the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa determines whether you meet the entry requirement for the Pre-ND, ND and HND programmed of your choice.

The entry requirements for Pre-ND are as follows;

i.                   Minimum of Five (5) credit in O’Level result subject relvant to the program described in student hand book in section 2.1

ii.                 We have 12 Pre-ND programmes which comprises

a.     Statistics

b.     Computer science

c.      Quantity Survey

d.     Agric Engineering

e.      Mechanical Engineering

f.       Urban and Regional Planning

g.     Electrical Electronic Engineering

h.     Building Technology

i.       Science Laboratory Technology

j.       Civil Engineering

k.     Chemical Engineering

Pre-ND programmes is only one year, which consist of first and second semester and each semester, students are expected to have 50% in first semester and second semester then at the end of the second semester, the average is been calculate appropriately. At the end of calculation, the student need to get 50% and above for them to be given promotion to ND programmes

The pass mark for every subject in National Diploma and Polytechnic Diploma programmes is 40% and above while Pre-ND programmes, the pass mark is 50% and above

However, it is obvious that computer have dramatically transformed people’s lives in different fields of study as a result , today’s work are more productive, in other words , computer have re-invented old notions of bringing services to people and established real time communication as a cornerstones of institutional/ organization.

When the institutions are established, student screen from desk, this method proved to be ineffective; because student has to queue under the sun before they are been screen and it also consume time.

Therefore, this imbalance between manual (manpower) and the magnitude of screening exercise normally resulting to delay. The most effective measure, which can improve the efficiency of screening exercise, is the introduction of an on-line web-portal in various activities related to screening exercise.

1.1     BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Over the years, admission processing and admission screening exercise in the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa , have been handled manually and most prominent problem in this manual way of screening exercise includes, lack of electronic database to handle students data/information and inaccuracy in the value of the students published. Some of the disadvantages of the manual system will be elevated once the use of computer is employed in carrying out these operations.

A computer can be referred to as a machine which has the capacity of accepting data and imputed data based on the instructions given to it and display an output in respect of the operations performed by it.

Student screening exercise is a process by which admitted students are formally enrolled in the institution before payment of necessary fees, and provision of necessary information like pin for printing of admission letter, payment of school fees etc.

Website Design for PRE-ND Processing in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa portal, when fully implemented automatically represent full admission screening processes.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The increasing population of student in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa has resulted to tedious and time consuming activities of in admission processing and student screening exercise. The accelerated rate has now reached a point where it is difficult for the available screening officer to cope with the magnitude of student undergoing screening work in the given time span as well as accuracy.

The new proposed system is found feasible and it implementation will eliminate the problem encountered in the manual system. Some of the problems associated with the manual include the following:

                                           I.            Student insecurities.

                                        II.            Lack of electronic database to handle student data/information.

                                     III.            High rate of forgery

                                    IV.            Delay in the update of registration, data and information.

                                       V.            Delay in issuing registration number.

1.3     AIM AND OBJECTIVES    

The aim of the product is to study the existing manual system and design, implement a prototype of Website Design for PRE-ND Processing in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa portal.  Based on the relevance of this project to the Computer Science Department, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, below are some of the objectives

                                           I.            To replace the existing (manual) system of screening exercise.

                                        II.            To create a useful and flexible program for computer science department

                                     III.            to reduce / save cost in keeping records of student

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Through timely information and paper management of student’s database, the staff at screening unit have necessary report that assist in monitoring, planning, processing, and controlling the different student operations in the unit. The study also be of great benefit to other researchers as it contributes to knowledge on timely student screening and management of database.

In a nut shell, the following are some of the benefit that are derivable in this research work.

                                           I.            The web-based program be user friendly.

                                        II.            Provision of robust database which take care of student data/information.

                                     III.            To design a software system that is secured from unauthorized users.

                                    IV.            To design software system that enhance speed screening exercise.

1.5     SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is limited to Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, it can also be used in other institution with little customization.

The following are the limitation:

                                           I.            Cost of implementations (financing).

                                        II.            Lack of management and expertise involvement.

                                     III.            Poor communication.

                                    IV.            Shortage in computer literate personnel.

1.6     RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Many research methods were employed. First, a Website Design for PRE-ND Processing in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa portal was designed and implemented with the use of PHP. This project design cannot be completely achieved without the relevant information needed to put in place of an executable program. Consequently, the sources of data and information for this project work include the following;

i.         Review of related works

ii.        Personal experience

iii.     Articles

iv.     Sampling

v.        Interviews

vi.     The internet

Also direct observation and research was carried out and also system analysis to ascertain the overall Computer base testing and scoring process. This also highlight areas where problems are encountered; with all this information a new system (computer based) is design to achieve an identified aim and objectives of delivery of an automated test and scoring system.

Many research methods were employed. First, a computer based test and scoring system was designed and implemented. with the use of PHP. This project design can’t be completely achieved without the relevant information needed to put in place of an executable program. Consequently, the sources of data and information for this project work include the following;

i.              Review of related works

ii.           Personal experience

iii.        Articles

iv.        Sampling

v.           Interviews

vi.        The internet

Also direct observation and research was carried out and also system analysis to ascertain the overall Computer base testing and scoring process. This also highlight areas where problems are encountered; with all this information a new system (computer based) is design to achieve an identified aim and objectives of delivery of an automated test and scoring system.

1.7     DEFINITION OF TERMS

The meaning of the following words may be exclusively used in this work

• Registration: Collection of individual bio-data for unique identification.
• Student: This refers to a person who is studying.
•   Level: Students plane of rank in the institution to distinguish their classes.
•  PHP: Pre-hypertext preprocessor is a general purpose scripting language that is suitable for web development and embedded HTML.
• Database: This refers to structured set of data, use to store record of information, with each record containing multiple data fields.
• Interface: This can be described as surface forming boundary between the computer and the user.
•   Password: A secured identifier that enables a user to access a secured resource.
• Username: This refers to  a unique identifiers that enables a user to log on the computer.
• Administrator: This refers to a person who has full right and permission to all resource on the computer / network.