School Administrator Guide
Welcome! As a school administrator, you have complete control over your school's 4SCH system. This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up and managing all aspects of your school management system.
This guide is specifically for School Administrators who manage the school system through the web-based admin panel. If you're a teacher or staff member, see the Teacher Guide or Staff Guide.
Quick Navigationβ
Getting Startedβ
First Loginβ
When you first access the admin panel:
- Navigate to your school's admin URL (e.g.,
https://yourschool.4sch.com/admin) - Enter your Admin Email and Password
- Click Login
Before your very first sign-in, 4SCH sends a one-time Verify Email message to your admin address. Click the link in that email and you'll land on a friendly success page with a brief countdown β you're then automatically signed in and taken to your dashboard. The link still works if you've closed your browser since the email arrived. If you can't find the message, check your Spam / Junk folder.
Change your default password immediately after first login. Go to Profile β Change Password.
Understanding the Admin Dashboardβ
Your dashboard provides a complete overview of your school's key metrics and recent activity at a glance.
Key Features:
- Student and teacher statistics
- Fee collection status (fully paid, partially paid, unpaid)
- Upcoming holidays and recent announcements
- Quick actions and shortcuts
For a comprehensive guide on using the dashboard, understanding all metrics, filtering data, and exporting reports, see the Admin Dashboard & Analytics Guide.
Academic Managementβ
Setting Up Academic Sessionsβ
Academic sessions represent school years (e.g., 2024-2025).
To create a new session:
- Go to Academics β Session Years
- Click Add New Session
- Fill in:
- Session Name: e.g., "2024-2025"
- Start Date: First day of school
- End Date: Last day of school
- Default Session: Check if this is the current active session
- Click Save
Only one session can be marked as "default" (active). This is the session students and teachers see.
Creating Classes and Sectionsβ
Classes represent grade levels (e.g., Class 10), and sections are divisions within a class (e.g., 10-A, 10-B).
Step 1: Create Classes
- Go to Academics β Classes
- Click Add New Class
- Enter:
- Class Name: e.g., "Class 10"
- Medium: Language of instruction (e.g., English)
- Click Save
Step 2: Add Sections
- Select the class you just created
- Click Add Section
- Enter:
- Section Name: e.g., "A", "B", "Science", "Commerce"
- Capacity: Maximum students (optional)
- Click Save
Setting Up Subjectsβ
Subjects are the courses taught in your school.
To add subjects:
- Go to Academics β Subjects
- Click Add New Subject
- Fill in:
- Subject Name: e.g., "Mathematics", "English"
- Subject Code: e.g., "MATH101"
- Type: Core or Elective
- Click Save
Assigning Subjects to Classes:
- Go to Academics β Class Subjects
- Select a class and section
- Choose subjects from the list
- Assign teachers to each subject (see Teacher-Subject Assignment Guide)
- Click Save
Syllabus Pattern Managementβ
Organize and structure curriculum content with pattern-based syllabus organization for better academic planning.
Creating Syllabus Patterns:
-
Open the sidebar and navigate to Academics β Class β Syllabus
Where to Find SyllabusSyllabus is grouped under the Class menu (within the Academics section). It appears between Class and Class Subject in the sidebar.
-
Click Add Syllabus
-
Configure:
- Class: Select the class
- Subject: Choose the subject
- Title: Enter syllabus title (auto-populated as "Class - Subject")
- Status: Set as Active or Inactive
-
Click Submit
The Syllabus management requires the syllabus-list permission.
For schools created before v1.9.2 that don't see the Syllabus menu link,
your administrator must run the syllabus permissions backfill migration to grant
the required permissions to the School Admin role.
Benefits:
- Standardize curriculum structure across classes
- Link lessons and topics to specific syllabus patterns
- Track syllabus completion progress
- Generate syllabus-based reports
- Ensure consistency in curriculum delivery
Creating Timetablesβ
To create a class timetable:
- Go to Academics β Timetable
- Select Class, Section, and Session
- Click Create Timetable
- For each day:
- Add time slots (e.g., 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
- Assign subject and teacher
- Add room/venue (optional)
- Click Save Timetable
Use the Copy Timetable feature to duplicate a similar class's schedule and modify it.
Timetable Validation & Conflicts:
The system checks for:
- Teacher double-booking: A teacher can't be scheduled for two classes at the same time
- Classroom conflicts: If room assignments are used, same room can't be used simultaneously
- Time slot overlaps: Ensure start/end times don't conflict
If you encounter conflicts, review teacher assignments or adjust time slots.
Managing Examsβ
Creating Exam Schedules:
- Go to Exams β Exam Types
- Add exam types (e.g., Mid-Term, Final, Monthly Test)
- Go to Exams β Create Exam
- Fill in:
- Exam Name: e.g., "Mid-Term Exam - Term 1"
- Session and Class
- Start Date and End Date
- Click Save
Publishing Exam Timetable:
- Select the exam
- Click Add Timetable
- For each subject:
- Date and Time
- Duration
- Total Marks
- Passing Marks
- Venue/Room
- Click Publish Timetable
Offline Exam Marks with Draft and Publishβ
Offline exam marks now support Draft and Publish workflow for better control over marks release and enhanced security for online exams.
Using Draft and Publish for Offline Exam Marks:
- Go to Exams β Upload Marks
- Select class, exam, and subject
- Choose Status:
- Draft: Save marks without making them visible to students/parents
- Published: Make marks visible to students and parents
- Enter marks for each student
- Click Submit
Benefits of Draft Status:
- Review and verify marks before publication
- Collaborative marking with multiple teachers
- Correct errors before students see results
- Control timing of results release
- Maintain academic integrity
Security Enhancements:
- Online exams now include screen recording and screenshot protection
- Fee payment screens include screenshot protection
- Enhanced data security during sensitive operations
For detailed exam workflows, see:
User Managementβ
Adding Studentsβ
Single Student Admission:
- Go to Students β Add Student
- Fill in Personal Details:
- First Name, Last Name
- Date of Birth
- Gender
- Photo (optional)
- Add Contact Information:
- Email (if applicable)
- Mobile Number
- Current Address
- Set Academic Details:
- Admission Number
- Class and Section
- Roll Number
- Admission Date
- Add Guardian/Parent Information:
- Name, Email, Phone
- Relationship to student
- Click Submit
Bulk Student Import:
- Go to Students β Import Students
- Download the CSV template
- Fill in student details in the template
- Upload the completed CSV file
- Review and confirm the import
Ensure email addresses and admission numbers are unique. Duplicates will cause import errors.
Managing Teachersβ
Adding a Teacher:
- Go to Staff β Teachers β Add Teacher
- Fill in:
- Personal Details: Name, DOB, Gender, Photo
- Contact: Email, Phone, Address
- Employment Details:
- Employee ID
- Joining Date
- Qualification
- Designation (e.g., Senior Teacher, HOD)
- Assign Subjects:
- Select classes and subjects they teach
- See the Teacher-Subject Assignment Guide for detailed workflows
- Set Login Credentials:
- Email (used for login)
- Generate password
- Click Save
Adding Non-Teaching Staffβ
Non-teaching staff includes accountants, admission officers, librarians, transport coordinators, etc.
To add staff:
- Go to Staff β Non-Teaching Staff β Add Staff
- Fill in personal and contact details
- Set Role:
- Accountant
- Admission Officer
- Transport Coordinator
- Librarian
- Office Clerk
- Assign Permissions based on their role
- Create login credentials
- Click Save
Managing Parents/Guardiansβ
Parents are automatically created when you add a student. To manage them:
- Go to Parents β All Parents
- View parent details linked to students
- Edit contact information if needed
- Reset passwords if parents forget credentials
Fee Managementβ
Setting Up Fee Structureβ
Step 1: Create Fee Types
- Go to Fees β Fee Types
- Click Add Fee Type
- Examples:
- Tuition Fee
- Sports Fee
- Library Fee
- Lab Fee
- Transport Fee
- Exam Fee
- For each, set:
- Name
- Description
- Optional or Compulsory
Step 2: Define Fee Structures for Classes
- Go to Fees β Fee Structures
- Select Class and Session
- Add fee types with amounts:
- Tuition Fee: β¦50,000
- Sports Fee: β¦5,000
- Library Fee: β¦3,000
- Set Payment Schedule:
- Full Payment
- Installments (e.g., 3 installments)
- Set Due Dates for each installment
- Click Save
Creating Invoicesβ
Manual Invoice Generation:
- Go to Fees β Generate Invoices
- Select Class, Section, Session
- Choose students (or select all)
- The system generates invoices based on fee structure
- Click Generate Invoices
Auto-Generated Invoices:
- Set up automatic invoice generation for new admissions
- Go to Settings β Fee Settings
- Enable Auto-Generate Invoices
Recording Paymentsβ
Cash/Offline Payments:
- Go to Fees β Record Payment
- Search for student
- View outstanding balance
- Enter:
- Amount Paid
- Payment Date
- Payment Method: Cash, Cheque, Bank Transfer
- Receipt Number
- Notes (optional)
- Click Record Payment
- Print receipt for parent
Online Payments:
Online payments through payment gateways are recorded automatically. You can:
- View transaction details
- Download payment receipts
- Reconcile with bank statements
Payment Gateway Setupβ
To enable online fee payments:
- Go to Settings β Payment Gateway
- Choose your provider:
- Paystack
- Flutterwave
- Stripe
- RazorPay
- Paste the access keys you copied from your provider's website:
- Public Key
- Secret Key
- Set Payment Settings:
- Minimum amount
- Convenience fee (if applicable)
- Test the connection
- Enable the gateway
Fee Reportsβ
Generate comprehensive fee reports:
- Go to Fees β Reports
- Choose report type:
- Fee Collection Report: Total collected vs pending
- Class-wise Collection: Collection by class
- Defaulters Report: Students with pending fees
- Payment Method Report: Cash vs online
- Select date range
- Export as PDF or Excel
Reports & Analyticsβ
Student Reportsβ
Attendance Reports:
- Go to Reports β Attendance
- Filter by:
- Class/Section
- Date range
- Student
- View statistics:
- Total present/absent days
- Attendance percentage
- Monthly trends
- Export report
Academic Performance Reports:
- Go to Reports β Exam Results
- Select exam and class
- View:
- Subject-wise performance
- Class average
- Top performers
- Students needing attention
- Generate report cards
Reports feature improved UI/UX with:
- Clearer data presentation and better navigation
- Session year filtering (view historical data without changing active session)
- Enhanced student and teacher report interfaces
- Improved route vehicle reports with better filtering options
Financial Reportsβ
Fee Collection Summary:
- Total fees due
- Amount collected
- Pending amount
- Collection rate
Income vs Expense:
- Track school revenue through fee collection
- Monitor operational expenses (see Expense Management)
- View profit/loss trends
- Monthly financial comparisons
For detailed expense tracking and categorization, use the dedicated Expense Management feature. This allows you to record utilities, supplies, maintenance, and other operational costs with proper categorization and reporting.
Staff Reportsβ
Teacher Performance:
- Classes taught
- Attendance marking
- Assignment grading rate
- Student feedback
Leave Reports:
- Leave applications
- Approved/rejected
- Leave balance
- Attendance record
System Settingsβ
School Profile & General Settingsβ
Update your school's information:
- Go to Settings β School Profile
- Edit:
- School Name
- Logo (upload image)
- Address
- Contact Numbers
- Website
- School Code
- Click Save
Custom Fields in General Settingsβ
School custom fields have been restored and relocated to General Settings for better organization and easier access.
Setting Up Custom Fields:
- Go to Settings β General Settings
- Scroll to Custom Fields section
- Click Add Custom Field
- Configure:
- Field Name: Give your field a descriptive name
- Field Type: Text, Number, Date, Dropdown, etc.
- Required: Make field mandatory or optional
- Visibility: Control who can see this field
- Click Save
Use Cases:
- School registration number
- Affiliation details
- Custom school identifiers
- Regional or district-specific information
- Accreditation data
Managing Custom Field Data:
- Values are captured during school setup and can be edited anytime
- Custom fields appear in relevant reports and exports
- Use for compliance and reporting requirements
Role & Permissionsβ
Define what each user role can access:
- Go to Settings β Roles & Permissions
Lessons & Topics Managementβ
Permissions:
lesson-createβ Allow teachers to create lessonslesson-editβ Allow teachers to edit lessonslesson-deleteβ Allow teachers to delete lessonstopic-createβ Allow teachers to create topics under lessonstopic-editβ Allow teachers to edit topicstopic-deleteβ Allow teachers to delete topics
System Setting:
file_upload_size_limitβ Maximum file size for study materials (MB)
Teachers can upload files, videos, YouTube links, and other links as study materials. Monitor the file upload size limit to balance quality vs storage/bandwidth.
Modules & Feature Access (Missing Menus)β
If a user cannot see a menu (or receives a "feature not available" style error), it is usually due to one of these:
- Module is disabled for the school (feature not enabled)
- Permission is not granted for the user role
Common module names used by the system include:
- Exam Management
- Assignment Management
- Attendance Management
- Fees Management
- Timetable Management
- Announcement Management
- Lesson Management
- Staff Leave Management
- Expense Management
If a teacher/parent/student reports a missing feature:
- Confirm the role permissions first
- Then verify the module/feature is enabled for your school plan/settings
- If you still canβt enable it, contact support to activate the module for your school
If the feature is visible for admins but not for teachers, it is usually a role permission issue.
- Select a role (e.g., Teacher, Accountant)
- Enable/disable the permissions you want (for example: View students, Edit students, View fees, Collect fees, Generate reports)
- Click Save
Notification Settingsβ
Configure system notifications:
- Go to Settings β Notifications
- Set up:
- Email Notifications: Announcements, fee reminders
- Push Notifications: Attendance alerts, exam notices, fee reminders
- Push Notifications: Mobile app alerts
- Configure notification templates
- Set frequency and triggers
Backup & Data Managementβ
Database Backups:
- Go to Settings β Database Backup
- Options:
- Manual Backup: Create backup now
- Scheduled Backups: Daily, weekly, monthly
- Download backup files
- Store securely
Data Import/Export:
- Go to Settings β Data Management
- Export data:
- Student records
- Fee data
- Attendance logs
- Import data from other systems
- Use CSV templates
Communication & Announcementsβ
Posting Announcementsβ
School-Wide Announcements:
- Go to Communication β Announcements
- Click Create Announcement
- Fill in:
- Title: e.g., "PTA Meeting Notice"
- Message: Full details
- Target Audience:
- All Users
- Parents Only
- Specific Classes
- Attachments (if any)
- Send Notifications: Email, Push, In-App
- Click Publish
Messaging Systemβ
Send Messages to Parents/Teachers:
- Go to Communication β Messages
- Compose new message
- Select recipients:
- Individual users
- Entire class
- All parents
- Type message
- Send immediately or schedule
Transportation Managementβ
Enhanced with comprehensive student and teacher transportation attendance reporting for better route tracking and compliance monitoring.
Setting Up Routesβ
- Go to Transportation β Routes
- Click Add Route
- Enter:
- Route Name: e.g., "Route A - Downtown"
- Pickup Points: Add stops with timings
- Vehicle Assignment
- Driver & Helper Details
- Click Save
Managing Transport Feesβ
- Go to Transportation β Fees
- Set fees per route
- Link to student fee structure
- Generate transport invoices
Transportation Attendance Reportsβ
Comprehensive transportation attendance reporting for students and teachers with route tracking capabilities.
Viewing Student Transportation Reports:
- Go to Reports β Student Reports
- Select the Transportation tab
- View attendance statistics:
- Daily pickup/drop-off attendance
- Route-wise attendance summary
- Late pickups and absences
- Monthly transportation usage patterns
- Filter by:
- Date range
- Route/Vehicle
- Individual student
- Export reports for compliance and billing
Viewing Teacher/Driver Transportation Reports:
- Go to Reports β Teacher Reports or Staff Reports
- Select the Transportation tab
- Monitor:
- Route attendance tracking
- Driver/helper attendance logs
- Trip completion status
- Route monitoring data
- Use for:
- Staff attendance verification
- Route efficiency analysis
- Compliance documentation
Live Trackingβ
Monitor school buses in real-time:
- Go to Transportation β Live Tracking
- View all active buses on map
- Check route progress
- Send alerts to drivers
Holidays & Eventsβ
Adding Holidaysβ
- Go to Academics β Holidays
- Click Add Holiday
- Enter:
- Holiday Name: e.g., "Independence Day"
- Date
- Description
- Click Save
Holidays appear on calendars for students and teachers.
School Calendarβ
Manage all school events:
- Go to Academics β Calendar
- Add events:
- Exams
- Holidays
- Sports Day
- PTA Meetings
- Events sync to mobile apps
Gallery Managementβ
Share school photos and videos:
- Go to Gallery β Manage Gallery
- Create albums by:
- Session Year
- Event Type (Sports Day, Annual Function)
- Upload photos/videos
- Publish for viewing by parents and students
Leave Managementβ
Managing Staff Leaveβ
School Administrators can now manually create and manage leave entries for staff members, in addition to approving staff-initiated requests.
Creating Leave for Staff Membersβ
As an administrator, you can create leave entries on behalf of staff:
- Go to Staff β Leave Management or Leave β Manage Leave
- Click Add Leave
- Fill in the details:
- Staff Member: Select the staff member
- Leave Type: Choose from Sick, Casual, Earned, or other configured types
- From Date: Starting date of leave
- To Date: Ending date of leave
- Reason: Enter the reason for leave
- Status: Set as Approved, Pending, or Rejected
- Click Submit
Use Cases:
- Recording retroactive leave entries
- Managing leave for staff who cannot access the system
- Administrative leave assignments
- Bulk leave management during holidays or events
Approving Staff Leave Requestsβ
- Go to Staff β Leave Requests
- View pending requests
- Check:
- Leave type (Sick, Casual, Earned)
- Duration
- Reason
- Leave balance
- Approve or Reject with comments
Viewing Leave Historyβ
- Navigate to Staff β Leave Management to view all leave records
- Filter by staff member, date range, or leave type
- Export leave reports for HR purposes
- Monitor leave balances and patterns