CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

Student admissions are a vital part of any academic institution’s running because students are what keep the institutions alive. The student admission is one of the most important activities in school administration. A poor admissions system can mean fewer students being admitted into an institution because of mistakes or an overly slow response time. The process begins with a potential student completing an application form through the admissions office. The next step is for the admission unit to review the application and ensure that all of the required information has been provided, from the form itself to the supplementary documentation, such as language and degree certificates. If any of the required information is missing, it is the secretary for the department to which the application concerns that contacts the potential student and arranges for the delivery of the outstanding data. The application in its entirety is then forwarded, complete with a recommendation, to the respective department’s Admissions Tutor, who has the final say as to whether each potential student is accepted or rejected. Before making a decision, the admissions officer reviews the application and the additional documentation to confirm if the student seeking admission is qualified.

1.1 Theoretical Background

The national focus on student outcomes has placed an additional burden on our nation’s schools, school districts, and state education agencies, for they must monitor the achievement of individual students, as well as groups of students, and show that all students are meeting high standards for learning. An education organization’s ability to meet this challenge is affected by the organization’s access to complete, accurate, and timely information about its students. Many schools, school districts, and state education agencies already collect and use data effectively. However, the proliferation of new reporting requirements and dramatic changes in technology have had a profound effect on the need for student data and the education community’s ability to manage student records. Purchase of more powerful computer hardware and software and the reconfiguration of information systems have become essential components in efforts to meet the needs of all students.

1.2 Statement of Problem

1. Many institutions do not have an automated system to manage the admission screening of prospective students.
2. The consequence of this is that the time spent in processing admission becomes too long.
3. In addition, the manual system in place makes it very difficult for the admission officers to record and retrieve needed information pertaining to admission.
4. Errors are numerous in the manual screening.

There is therefore need for an automated system to handle the admission screening process so as to improve admission screening, reduce errors and save time. More importantly, the record of admission status of the students should be easily stored and retrieved.

• Aim And Objectives Of the Study

The aim of the study is to develop an automated admission processing system for tertiary institutions. The following are the specific objectives:

• To design an automated system that will aid in the screening of students based on admission requirements
• To provide a system that will allow the easy updating of admission information
• To design a system that will enable easy storage and retrieval of admission information.
• To implement a system that can hold a database of admission records such that it can be queried to get report.

1.4 Scope of the Study

This study covers Automated Admission Processing Management System, A Case Study Of Ritman Group Of Schools, Ikot Ekpene. It is limited to admission into the secondary school section

1.5 Significance of the study

The significance of the study is that it will provide a possible solution to the problem of admission screening. It will aid admission officers of  Ritman Group of schools to carry out their duties effectively. The study will also benefit the students and management as it will reduce the time spent in processing admission. The study will also serve as a useful reference material to other researchers seeking information on the subject.

1.6 Organization of the Research

This research work is organized into five chapters. Chapter one is concerned with the introduction of the research study and it presents the preliminaries, theoretical background, statement of the problem, aim and objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope of the study, organization of the research and definition of terms.

Chapter two focuses on the literature review, the contributions of other scholars on the subject matter is discussed.

Chapter three is concerned with the system analysis and design. It analyzes the present system to identify the problems and provides information on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed system. The system design is also presented in this chapter.

Chapter four presents the system implementation and documentation. The choice of programming language, analysis of modules, choice of programming language and system requirements for implementation.

Chapter five focuses on the constraints of the study, summary, conclusion and recommendations.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Admission: The right, ability, or permission to enter a place or an organization or institution

Screening: A system for selecting suitable people, e.g. for a job, membership in an organization, or tenancy

System: A combination of related parts organized into a complex whole