Comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide
Need immediate help? Check the Before Contacting Support checklist first. Most issues can be resolved in minutes!
Error Codes Reference Tableโ
| Code | Issue | Module | Severity | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E001 | Invalid login credentials | Authentication | High | Verify School Code, GR Number, Password (case-sensitive) |
| E002 | GR Number not found | Authentication | High | Check student ID card; confirm with school admin |
| E003 | Date of birth format incorrect | Authentication | Medium | Use dd-mm-yyyy format (e.g., 15-08-2010) |
| E004 | School Code invalid | Authentication | High | Ask class teacher; verify exact capitalization |
| E005 | Account locked after failed attempts | Authentication | High | Wait 30 minutes or contact school admin |
| E101 | Network timeout on exam | Online Exams | Critical | Check internet; see Network Troubleshooting section |
| E102 | Exam timer mismatch | Online Exams | High | Sync device time; restart app |
| E103 | Answer not submitted | Online Exams | Critical | Reload page; check submission status |
| E104 | Exam access denied (date/time) | Online Exams | Medium | Verify exam schedule in timetable |
| E105 | Random question generation failed | Online Exams | High | Insufficient questions in bank; contact admin |
| E201 | Payment gateway timeout | Billing | Critical | Retry after 5 minutes; check provider status |
| E202 | Payment declined by bank | Billing | High | Verify card details; check with bank |
| E203 | Duplicate charge detected | Billing | Critical | Check bank account; contact support with transaction ID |
| E204 | Wrong currency conversion | Billing | Medium | Confirm invoice currency matches payment method |
| E301 | Attendance window closed | Attendance | Medium | Check submission deadline; contact teacher |
| E302 | Gradebook locked | Attendance & Grades | Medium | Assessment finalized; request admin unlock |
| E401 | Transportation route not available | Transportation | Medium | Enroll in available route; check enrollment deadline |
| E402 | Vehicle GPS offline | Transportation | High | Driver connectivity issue; contact school |
| E501 | Gallery image upload failed | Gallery | Low | Check file size (<10MB); use JPEG/PNG |
| E502 | Gallery sync error | Gallery | Low | Clear cache; restart app |
| E601 | Dashboard data not loading | Dashboard | Medium | Clear cache; check internet; reload |
PART 1: AUTHENTICATION & LOGIN ISSUESโ
Issue 1.1: Student Can't Log Inโ
Error Codes: E001, E004
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Verify all THREE credentials match exactly (case-sensitive):
- School Code: _________ (confirm with school office)
- GR Number: _________ (check student ID card)
- Password: _________ (check with school if changed recently)
- Phone/Browser time is correct (within ยฑ5 minutes)
- Internet connection is stable
- Not locked after failed attempts (wait 30 minutes if needed)
- App version is latest (check app store for updates)
Quick Fix (Most Common - 5 minutes)โ
- Check your School Code exactly - Often has specific capitalization (e.g., "LACS-001" not "lacs-001")
- Verify GR Number matches your ID card - Copy it exactly as shown
- Try clearing cache (Web Portal only):
- Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+Delete โ Select "All time" โ Clear data
- Safari: Preferences โ Privacy โ "Manage Website Data" โ Remove 4sch.com
- Restart the app (mobile) or try incognito/private window (web)
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: Reset Your Password (Recommended)
- On login page, click "Forgot Password?"
- Enter: School Code, GR Number, Date of Birth (dd-mm-yyyy)
- Follow verification steps
- Set new password (minimum 8 characters, mix of letters & numbers)
- Wait 30 seconds, then log in with new credentials
Solution B: Wrong School Code?
- Contact your class teacher or school office
- Common mistake: Using school name instead of code (e.g., "Lagos Academy" vs "LACS-001")
- Write down the exact code from school
Solution C: Device Time Is Wrong
- Check your device time/date settings
- Ensure it matches your timezone
- Turn on "Automatic date & time" (phone settings)
- Restart app after fixing
Solution D: Account Locked After Failed Attempts
- System locks after 5 failed login attempts
- Wait 30 minutes for auto-unlock
- Or contact school admin for manual unlock
Diagnostic Flowchart (Text-Based)โ
START: Can't log in?
โ
โโโ See error "E001: Invalid credentials"?
โ โโโ YES: Check capitalization of School Code
โ โโโ NO: Continue
โ
โโโ See error "E004: School Code invalid"?
โ โโโ YES: Contact school for exact code
โ โโโ NO: Continue
โ
โโโ Account locked message?
โ โโโ YES: Wait 30 minutes for unlock
โ โโโ NO: Continue
โ
โโโ Still failing? Contact support with error details
Video Reference: See "Student Login Walkthrough" in video tutorials
Issue 1.2: Student Password Reset Not Workingโ
Error Codes: E003, E002
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- GR Number matches exactly (check student ID card)
- Date of Birth is in dd-mm-yyyy format (NOT dd/mm/yyyy)
- School Code is exactly correct (check with teacher)
- Not attempting reset more than once per 5 minutes
- Check email spam folder (if email sent)
- Phone storage has enough space
Quick Fix (Most Common - 3 minutes)โ
The #1 mistake: Wrong date format!
- โ WRONG: 15/08/2010 or 2010-08-15
- โ CORRECT: 15-08-2010
Steps:
- Open 4SCH app or go to ngs.4sch.com
- Click "Forgot Password?"
- Enter School Code (e.g., "LACS-001")
- Enter GR Number (from ID card, e.g., "12345")
- Enter Date of Birth as DD-MM-YYYY (e.g., "15-08-2010")
- Click "Verify"
- Follow verification steps
- Set new password
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: Date Format Still Wrong?
- Use notepad and write: 15-08-2010
- Copy-paste it into the app (avoid typing)
- This prevents accidental spacing errors
Solution B: Still "GR Number Not Found"?
- Your GR Number may have changed
- Check: Student ID card, school admit letter, report card
- Ask class teacher to confirm current GR Number
- If still different, contact school admin
Solution C: School Code Confusion
- School Code โ School Name
- Examples: "Lagos Academy" โ Code might be "LACS-001"
- Contact your school office for exact code
- Write it down and use copy-paste to avoid typos
Solution D: Reset Email Not Arriving
- Check spam/junk folder
- Add admin@4sch.com to contacts
- Wait up to 2 minutes
- If not received: Try again (wait 5 minutes between attempts)
Video Reference: "Password Reset Step-by-Step" tutorialโ
Issue 1.3: Teacher/Parent/Staff Password Reset Not Workingโ
Affected Roles: Teachers, Parents, School Staff, Accountants, Drivers
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Email address on file is correct
- Check email spam/junk folder
- Email inbox not full (storage issue)
- Not attempting reset more than once per 10 minutes
- If SSO enabled: Contact identity provider instead
- Account not deactivated by admin
Quick Fixโ
For Web Portal Users:
- Go to ngs.4sch.com
- Click "Forgot Password?"
- Enter registered email address
- Check email (including spam folder)
- Click reset link within 24 hours
- Set new password (minimum 8 characters)
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: Email Not Arriving
- Check SPAM folder - Most common fix
- Verify email on file: School admin can check in Admin Console
- Wait up to 2 minutes for email to arrive
- Try again after 10 minutes (rate limiting)
- Contact your school admin to resend the email or to check whether email sending is working for everyone
Solution B: SSO (Single Sign-On) Enabled
- If your school uses SSO (Microsoft, Google, etc.):
- Don't use "Forgot Password" on 4SCH
- Reset password through your identity provider
- Then log in with your SSO account
Solution C: Account Deactivated
- Admin may have deactivated your account
- Contact school admin to reactivate
- Provide: Your name and email
Video Reference: "Staff Password Reset Guide"โ
PART 2: ONLINE EXAMS ISSUESโ
Issue 2.1: Can't Access Online Examโ
Error Codes: E104, E101
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Exam date/time is TODAY (check timetable)
- Current time is within exam window (e.g., 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM)
- Device time is correct (within ยฑ5 minutes)
- Internet connection is stable (WiFi or 4G)
- App version is latest (check app store)
- Phone storage has at least 500MB free
- Not already submitted (can't re-enter after submission)
Quick Fix (Most Common - 2 minutes)โ
- Check exam timetable: Dashboard โ Exams โ Timetable
- Verify date and time match today's schedule
- Check device time: Settings โ Date & Time โ Enable "Automatic"
- Try refreshing the exam list: Pull down to refresh
- Restart the app completely
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: "Exam Not Yet Available" Error
- Exam hasn't started yet
- Check exam start time in timetable
- Come back at correct time
- Set a phone reminder 5 minutes before
Solution B: "Exam Time Expired" Error
- You're trying to access after deadline
- Check exam window in timetable
- After deadline, exam closes
- Contact teacher if you entered within time but got error
Solution C: Device Time is Wrong
- Phone Settings โ Date & Time
- Enable "Automatic date & time" (use NTP)
- Check timezone matches your location
- Restart phone after changing
- Restart 4SCH app
Solution D: Still Can't Access?
- Check if exam moved to different time (check timetable again)
- Verify you're in correct CLASS/SECTION
- Different sections may have different exam times
- Contact teacher with screenshot of error
Video Reference: "Online Exam Access Guide"โ
Issue 2.2: Exam Timer Not Working / Time Mismatchโ
Error Codes: E102
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Device time is synchronized (Settings โ Auto sync ON)
- Have stable internet (WiFi preferred for exams)
- App is fully updated to latest version
- Sufficient phone storage (500MB+ free)
- Not using VPN (disables time sync)
- Not in Airplane mode or low power mode
Quick Fix (Most Common - 5 minutes)โ
- Note the timer on screen - How much time left?
- Check your device time โ Settings โ Clock
- Enable automatic time sync:
- Android: Settings โ Date & Time โ "Automatic date and time" ON
- iOS: Settings โ General โ Date & Time โ "Set Automatically" ON
- Restart the app completely
- Return to exam - Timer should sync
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: Timer Showing Wrong Time
- Timer is based on SERVER time, not device time
- If device is set ahead/behind, timer adjusts accordingly
- Always use automatic time sync
Solution B: Timer Keeps Resetting or Jumping
- Indicates poor internet connection
- Switch to WiFi if on mobile data
- Move closer to WiFi router
- Try restarting app
Solution C: Timer Stopped / Frozen
- Note the time on screen
- Check if WiFi/network is disconnected
- Reconnect to internet
- Wait 10 seconds
- Timer should resume
- If still frozen: Exit and re-enter exam (answer loss possible)
Solution D: VPN is Interfering
- If using VPN: Turn it OFF
- Exam system needs accurate time sync
- VPN can disrupt NTP time synchronization
Video Reference: "Online Exam Timer Guide"โ
Issue 2.3: Answers Not Submitting / "Submission Failed"โ
Error Codes: E103
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Internet connection is active and stable
- Not disconnected mid-exam
- Exam not closed (deadline passed)
- Enough phone storage (at least 100MB)
- App version is latest
- All answers are visible on screen before submitting
- Not using VPN or proxy
Quick Fix (Most Common - 5 minutes)โ
- Check internet connection:
- WiFi: See WiFi icon with checkmark
- Mobile: See 4G/LTE indicator
- Try answering and submitting ONE question:
- Tap an answer
- Scroll down
- Tap "Save" or "Next"
- Wait for confirmation message
- If that works: Continue with other questions
- If that fails: See Solution A below
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: "Connection Failed" or "Submission Error"
Step-by-step fix:
- Don't close the app! Your answers may still be saved locally
- Check internet connection:
- WiFi: Disconnected? Reconnect
- Mobile data: No signal? Move to better location
- Try submitting answer again:
- Tap answer option
- Scroll down
- Tap "Save" / "Next"
- Wait 3 seconds for response
- If still failing: Restart app (carefully):
- Completely close app (swipe out of recent apps)
- Wait 5 seconds
- Reopen app
- Go back to exam
- All answers should still be there
Solution B: "Network Timeout" During Exam
This happens when internet is very slow:
- Check internet speed (needs minimum 1 Mbps)
- Switch to better connection:
- WiFi: Move closer to router
- Mobile: Switch to 4G/LTE (not 3G)
- Disable background apps:
- Android: Close other apps in recent menu
- iOS: Swipe up to close background apps
- Try submitting answer again
Solution C: Exam Closed While Submitting
If exam deadline passes DURING submission:
- System may reject answer
- If happened within 30 seconds of deadline: Contact teacher
- If you submitted AFTER deadline: System won't accept answers
Solution D: Answer Saved Locally But Not Uploaded
Rare issue - answer on phone but not on server:
- Don't refresh or close app
- Try submitting again
- If exam still open: System will upload
- If exam closed: Contact teacher immediately with:
- Your full name
- Question number
- Your answer
- Time you answered
Video Reference: "Online Exam Submission Tips"โ
Issue 2.4: Questions Not Loading or Random Questions Failedโ
Error Codes: E105
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Exam uses Manual (not Random) assignment OR
- Admin verified enough questions in question bank
- Internet connection is stable
- App cache has been cleared
- Device has at least 500MB free storage
Quick Fixโ
For Random Assignment Exams:
- What should happen: Questions randomly load from question bank
- If questions won't load:
- Click "Refresh" or "Reload Questions"
- Close and reopen exam
- If still failing: See Solution A
For Manual Assignment Exams:
- Questions should appear immediately
- If blank:
- Scroll down (questions may be below)
- Restart app
- Check internet connection
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: "Not Enough Questions" Error
This happens when:
- Random assignment is used
- Question bank doesn't have enough questions
- Example: Teacher set "25 random questions" but only 15 exist
What you should do:
- Don't attempt the exam (will fail)
- Contact your teacher immediately
Solution B: Questions Load Very Slowly
Slow question loading (more than 10 seconds):
- Check internet speed (needs minimum 0.5 Mbps)
- Check WiFi signal (must be 3+ bars)
- Restart router: Off for 30 seconds, then on
- Try on different WiFi if available
- Close other apps using internet
Solution C: Questions Disappear Mid-Exam
If questions blank out while taking exam:
- Don't panic - Don't restart app immediately
- Check internet - Is WiFi still connected?
- Reconnect internet if disconnected
- Wait 5 seconds - Questions may reload
- If still blank: Restart app and re-enter
- All answers should still be saved
Video Reference: "Online Exam Questions Guide"โ
PART 3: OFFLINE EXAMS ISSUESโ
Issue 3.1: Can't View Offline Exam Resultsโ
Error Codes: E301, E302
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Exam has been conducted (check timetable)
- Results have been published by teacher
- Your class/section is correct
- Internet connection is stable
- App version is latest
Quick Fixโ
- Go to Dashboard โ Exams โ Offline Exams โ Results
- Pull down to refresh the list
- Check the exam date - Results appear after marking is complete
- If results visible: Tap to view your marks
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: Results Not Showing
- Teacher hasn't marked exams yet
- Marking may take 2-7 days depending on school policy
- Check exam date and ask teacher when results will be published
Solution B: Exam Not in Timetable
- Exam may have been cancelled
- Check with your teacher
- Contact school admin if unsure
Solution C: Results Show But Marks Seem Wrong
- Review the answer key (if provided)
- Check your answers against teacher's answer key
- If you believe there's an error: Message teacher politely with:
- Question number
- Your answer
- Why you think it should be marked differently
Video Reference: "Offline Exam Results Guide"โ
Issue 3.2: Offline Exam Timetable Not Showingโ
Error Codes: E104
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Offline exams module is enabled (check with admin)
- Your class has exams scheduled
- Device time is correct
- Internet connection is stable
Quick Fixโ
- Go to Dashboard โ Exams
- Look for "Offline Exams" tab
- Tap Timetable to see schedule
- If not visible: Pull down to refresh
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: "Offline Exams" Tab Not Visible
- Module may be disabled by school
- Contact school admin to enable Offline Exams module
- Check Admin Console โ Settings โ Modules
Solution B: Timetable is Empty
- Your school may not have scheduled offline exams
- Contact your class teacher
- Or check with school admin about exam schedule
Solution C: Wrong Class/Section Showing
- Tap class selector at top
- Confirm you're viewing correct class/section
- Different sections may have different exam schedules
Video Reference: "Offline Exam Timetable Guide"โ
PART 4: PAYMENT & BILLING ISSUES (NIGERIAN CONTEXT)โ
Issue 4.1: Payment Failed - Flutterwave Errorโ
Error Codes: E201, E202, E203
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Card details are correct (name, number, expiry, CVV)
- Card is active and not blocked
- Sufficient funds in account
- Not exceeded daily transaction limit
- Internet connection is stable throughout payment
- Invoice amount is correct (in NGN - Nigerian Naira)
- Payment gateway shows "Online" status
Quick Fix (Most Common - 5 minutes)โ
Step 1: Verify Payment Gateway Status
- Before attempting payment, check: Is Flutterwave online?
- If payment page shows "Gateway unavailable" - wait 5 minutes
- Refresh and try again
Step 2: Retry Payment
- Dashboard โ Fees โ Select invoice
- Click "Pay Now" button
- Select Flutterwave as payment method
- Enter card details carefully:
- Cardholder Name: Exactly as on card
- Card Number: 16 digits
- Expiry: MM/YY format
- CVV: 3 digits on back of card
- Click "Pay"
Step 3: Check Your Bank
- Open your bank app
- Check if money was deducted
- If deducted: See Solution B (Duplicate charge)
- If NOT deducted: Payment genuinely failed, proceed to Solution A
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: "Payment Declined" Error (Card Rejected)
Possible reasons:
- Card blocked: Call your bank and ask why
- Insufficient funds: Check account balance
- Exceeded daily limit: Bank may limit online transfers
- Card expired: Check expiry date (MM/YY on card)
- Fraud detection: Bank blocked suspicious transaction
What to do:
- Call your bank (24/7 hotline):
- GTBank: 0700-2255822
- Access Bank: 0700-6000000
- Zenith Bank: 0800-6000000
- First Bank: 01-279-6161
- UBA: 01-271-6789
- Others: Find on back of your ATM card
- Ask them to approve the 4SCH payment
- Try payment again after 10 minutes
- Use different card if available
- Try bank transfer instead (see Solution C)
Solution B: Money Deducted But Payment Shows "Pending"
This is a CRITICAL issue in Nigeria - requires immediate action:
What this means:
- Money left your account
- But 4SCH system didn't receive confirmation
- Happens due to network interruption during payment
What to do IMMEDIATELY:
- Don't try paying again! You'll be double-charged
- Check your bank account:
- Is money really gone? (Check transaction history)
- If yes, note: transaction ID, amount, date/time
- Contact Flutterwave support:
- Email: support@flutterwave.com
- Phone: +234 (0) 700-933-6000
- Provide: Transaction ID, amount, error screenshot
- Contact 4SCH support with:
- Your full name
- GR Number (if student)
- Invoice number
- Amount paid
- Transaction ID from bank
- Bank transaction date/time
- Screenshots of bank deduction AND pending payment on 4SCH
- 4SCH support will:
- Verify transaction with Flutterwave
- Manually reconcile payment
- Update invoice as paid within 24-48 hours
Timeline:
- Bank deduction: Immediate
- 4SCH verification: 2-4 hours
- Invoice marked paid: 24-48 hours
- Refund (if duplicate): 3-5 business days
Solution C: Use Bank Transfer Instead (Most Reliable)
If Flutterwave continues to fail:
- Go to invoice in 4SCH
- Look for "Bank Transfer" payment method
- Click to view bank details
- Transfer exact amount to school's bank account
- Upload proof of transfer (screenshot of bank confirmation)
- School admin approves, invoice marked paid
Advantages of bank transfer:
- More reliable than card
- No gateway issues
- Instant confirmation in your bank
- School gets funds directly
Solution D: Card Has Daily Limit
Nigerian banks often set daily limits:
- Check your daily limit:
- Contact your bank
- Check in bank mobile app (Account Settings)
- Typical limits: โฆ100,000 - โฆ1,000,000 per day
- Your invoice might exceed limit:
- Example: Invoice is โฆ150,000 but daily limit is โฆ100,000
- You can't pay in single transaction
- Solutions:
- Pay from a different account with higher limit
- Contact bank to increase daily limit (takes 1-2 days)
- Request parent/guardian with higher limit to pay
- Use bank transfer method (different limit)
Solution E: Flutterwave Gateway Timeout
Sometimes payment seems stuck or times out:
- Don't click "Pay" again if page is loading
- Wait 30 seconds for response
- Check your bank - Is money deducted?
- YES: See Solution B (Pending payment)
- NO: Continue below
- Close payment page - Use browser back button
- Go back to invoice - Check if payment went through
- YES: Close and refresh - should show paid
- NO: Wait 5 minutes, then retry
- If retrying: Use same card, system will detect duplicate
Diagnostic Flowchartโ
START: Payment failed?
โ
โโโ Error message shown?
โ โโโ "Payment Declined": โ Solution A (Call bank)
โ โโโ "Timeout": โ Solution E (Wait & retry)
โ โโโ "Pending": โ Solution B (Critical - contact support)
โ
โโโ Check bank account
โ โโโ Money deducted: โ Solution B (Verify with support)
โ โโโ Money still there: Continue
โ
โโโ Card details correct?
โ โโโ NO: Fix details and retry
โ โโโ YES: Continue
โ
โโโ Sufficient funds?
โ โโโ NO: Add money, then retry
โ โโโ YES: Continue
โ
โโโ Try different payment method
โ โโโ Bank Transfer: โ Solution C
โ โโโ Still cards: โ Solution A (Call bank)
โ
โโโ Still failing? Contact support with:
- Invoice number
- Amount
- Error message
- Bank transaction ID (if money deducted)
Video Reference: "Payment Processing Guide" (Nigerian Focus)
Issue 4.2: Missing Payment Receiptโ
Error Codes: E204 (if currency wrong)
Before Contacting Support - Verification Checklistโ
- Payment status shows "Paid" or "Completed"
- Invoice is marked as paid in 4SCH
- Invoice amount matches what you paid
- Payment was made within last 60 days
- Internet connection is stable
Quick Fixโ
- Go to Dashboard โ Fees โ Invoices
- Find the paid invoice
- Tap on invoice โ Look for "Download Receipt" button
- If visible: Tap to download PDF receipt
- Save/print receipt for your records
Advanced Solutionsโ
Solution A: Invoice Still Shows "Unpaid"
- Payment may still be processing (takes 2-24 hours)
- Check bank account: Is money really deducted?
- If deducted: See Issue 4.1 Solution B (Pending payment)
- If not deducted: Payment was declined, see Issue 4.1 Solution A
Solution B: Receipt Button Not Showing
- Payment may not have completed
- Wait 24 hours for reconciliation
- Then try downloading again
- If still not showing: Contact school admin
Solution C: Receipt Shows Wrong Amount
- Amount should match your payment
- If different: Contact 4SCH support with:
- Invoice number
- Amount paid (from bank)
- Receipt amount shown
- Bank transaction ID
Solution D: Need Receipt for Old Payment (>60 days)
- Go to Dashboard โ Fees โ Invoices
- Look for "Transaction History" or "Paid Invoices"
- Tap paid invoice from the date you need
- Download receipt
- If invoice not visible: Contact school admin for historical receipt
Video Reference: "Receipt Download Guide"โ
Issue 4.3: Multiple Invoices / Fee Structure Confusionโ
Nigerian School Context: Common fee structures include
- Tuition fees (per term)
- Registration/admission fee (annual or per session)
- Exam fees
- Transportation fees (optional)
- Uniform/books fees
- Activity/project fees
- School development levy