Grade monitoring system: A prototype for Thulamela secondary schools

Abstract

In South Africa, the Department of Basic Education commissioned that every school must issue out a report card to every learner at the end of each term/quarter as a standard communication tool between parents/guardians and school. To adhere to this, schools distribute messages through various ways in order to summon parents/guardians to come and collect learner report card on specific dates proposed by the school. In Thulamela, a section in the Limpopo province in South Africa, most of the schools require parents/guardians to collect the reports in person. Some parents or guardians usually come across situations whereby it is not feasible to collect the report on that specific date due to unavailability due to work, lack of transportation, poor health conditions etc. In order to overcome such challenges, this study proposes the use of technology in the form of a system that will allow parents or guardians to monitor learner performance which is assessable in an easier and more efficient manner. The study was based on secondary schools which are situated around Thulamela Municipality.