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Getting Started with 4SCH

Whether you're new to 4SCH or helping your school transition from paper records or another system, this guide will walk you through the first steps.

Your First Login​

After your school subscribes to 4SCH, you'll receive login credentials via email or SMS.

Step 1: Access the System

  1. Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari recommended)
  2. Go to your school's 4SCH URL (e.g., yourschool.4sch.com)
  3. Enter the username and password provided
  4. You'll be asked to change your password on first login

Step 2: Understand Your Dashboard

What you see depends on your role:

  • Administrators see school-wide statistics, pending tasks, and quick access to settings
  • Teachers see today's classes, attendance reminders, and recent assignments
  • Parents see their children's recent activity, upcoming events, and fee status
  • Students see their timetable, assignments due, and recent grades
First Time Using 4SCH?

Don't worry if things look unfamiliar. Click around and explore—you can't break anything! Each section of the dashboard has help text explaining what it does.

What to Do First (By Role)​

If You're a School Administrator​

Your main job is to set up the school structure so everyone else can use the system.

Week 1: Basic Setup

  1. ✅ Create the current academic session (e.g., 2024/2025)
  2. ✅ Add terms/trimesters within the session
  3. ✅ Add all classes your school offers (e.g., Primary 1-6, JSS 1-3, SSS 1-3)
  4. ✅ Add sections/streams if you have multiple classes (e.g., JSS 1A, JSS 1B)

Week 2: Staff and Subjects

  1. ✅ Add all teachers and assign them roles
  2. ✅ Add subjects taught at each level
  3. ✅ Assign teachers to their subjects and classes
  4. ✅ Add non-teaching staff (bursar, secretary, front desk staff)

Week 3: Students and Parents

  1. ✅ Add students (manually or by importing from Excel)
  2. ✅ Add parent/guardian accounts for each student
  3. ✅ Link students to their parents in the system

Week 4: Final Configuration

  1. ✅ Set up fee structures and payment methods
  2. ✅ Create the school timetable
  3. ✅ Send welcome messages to all users
  4. ✅ Train teachers on basic features
→ Full School Administrator Guide

If You're a Teacher​

Your administrator has already set up the system. You just need to learn how to use it for your daily work.

Your First Day

  1. ✅ Log in and check your dashboard
  2. ✅ Review your assigned classes and subjects
  3. ✅ Familiarize yourself with the class list
  4. ✅ Check the school timetable

Your First Week

  1. ✅ Mark attendance for your classes
  2. ✅ Create your first assignment
  3. ✅ Enter grades for a recent test
  4. ✅ Send a message to parents

Common Questions

  • How do I mark attendance? Go to Classes → Select your class → Mark Attendance
  • Where do I enter grades? Go to Gradebook → Select subject → Enter marks
  • Can I message all parents at once? Yes! Use Messaging → Select class group
→ Full Teacher Guide

If You're a Parent​

Your school has invited you to track your child's progress on 4SCH.

What You Can Do

  • ✅ Check if your child attended school today
  • ✅ See grades from recent tests and exams
  • ✅ View the class timetable and exam schedule
  • ✅ Pay school fees online (if enabled)
  • ✅ Message your child's teachers
  • ✅ Download report cards

Getting Started

  1. Click on your child's name (if you have multiple children, you'll see all of them)
  2. Explore the tabs: Attendance, Grades, Timetable, Fees
  3. Enable notifications so you get alerts when grades are posted or fees are due
→ Full Parent Guide

If You're a Student​

You can now access your school information online.

What You Can Do

  • ✅ View your class timetable
  • ✅ See your grades and attendance
  • ✅ Submit assignments online
  • ✅ Check announcements from school
  • ✅ Access study materials

Getting Started

  1. Log in with the credentials your school gave you
  2. Check your dashboard for today's classes
  3. Look at upcoming assignments and their due dates
  4. Explore your grades to see how you're doing
→ Full Student Guide

Common Setup Challenges (and Solutions)​

"I can't log in"​

  • Check your username: It might be your email, staff ID, or admission number
  • Reset your password: Click "Forgot Password" on the login screen
  • Contact your admin: They can verify your account is active

"I don't see my classes" (Teachers)​

  • Your admin needs to assign you to classes in the system
  • Contact your school admin to add you to the correct subjects

"I can't see my child's information" (Parents)​

  • Your account may not be linked to your child yet
  • Contact the school office to link your account properly

"The system is slow"​

  • Check your internet connection
  • Try closing other browser tabs
  • Use Chrome or Firefox for best performance
  • Contact your admin if the problem persists

Moving from Paper to Digital​

If your school previously used registers and notebooks, here's how 4SCH replaces them:

Old Method4SCH Equivalent
Attendance registerDigital attendance marking (saves automatically)
Grade bookOnline gradebook (calculates averages automatically)
Report cardsGenerated automatically from entered grades
Fee receiptsDigital receipts (parents can download anytime)
Notice boardSchool announcements (sent to all phones instantly)
Teacher-parent meetingsIn-app messaging (anytime communication)
note

You don't have to stop using paper completely right away. Many schools run both systems side-by-side for one term while everyone gets comfortable with 4SCH.

Getting Help​

Need training?
Ask your school admin to organize a training session for your role.

Have a question?

  • Check this documentation for your specific role
  • Ask a colleague who's already using 4SCH
  • Contact your school admin

Found a problem?
Report it to your school admin. They can contact 4SCH support on your behalf.

Next Steps​

Now that you understand the basics, dive deeper into the guide for your role: