TABLE OF CONTENT

Cover Page

Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study 1

1.2 Justification for the study 2

1.3 Statement of the study 2

1.4 Aim and Objectives of the study 3

1.5 Significance of the study 4

1.6 Scope of the study 4

1.7 Limitations 5
 CHAPTER TWO
LUTERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction 6

2.2 Conceptual Assessment of Work Done in The Field of Study 9

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 11

3.2 Method of Data Collection 12

3.3 Analysis of The Present System 13

3.3.1 Input Analysis 13

3.3.2 Process Analysis 14

3.3.3 Output Analysis 14

3.4 Weakness Observed from The Present System 14

3.5 Proposed High Level Solution to Problems Observed 15

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Systems Design 16

4.2 Objective of the Design 16

4.3 Control Centre 16

4.4 Input Specification 17

4.5 Output Specification 17

4.6 Choice of Programming Language 23

4.7 System specification 23

4.7.1 Hardware and General System Requirement 23

4.7.2 Software Specification 23

4.7.3 How to Use the Software 23

4.8 Hardware and Software Installation 24

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, RECOMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary 25

5.2 Conclusion 25

5.3 Recommendation 26

REFRENCES 27

APPENDIX A 29

APPENDIX B 38
 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study

Clearance is a status granted to individuals, typically members of the military, university

graduates and employees of governments and their contractors, allowing them have access

to classified information, i.e. state secrets. The term "clearance” is also sometimes used in

private organizations that have a formal process to vet employees for access to sensitive

information. A clearance by itself is normally not sufficient to gain access; the organization

must determine that the cleared individual has a "need to know" the information. No one is

supposed to be granted access to classified information solely because of rank or position,

but once a clearance is obtained, access to certain information or gain of freedom will be

granted.

Nasarawa State Polytechnic is a state government polytechnic approved by the Nasarawa

State House of Assembly for the establishment of a polytechnic in Lafia. The Nasarawa

State Polytechnic was established by his Excellency, the first Executive Governor of

Nasarawa State, Alhaji (Dr) Abdullahi Adamu (sarkin yakin Keffi) on 15 th August 2000.

The school operates the faculty system and presently has four faculties: Science and

Technology, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Management and Social Sciences.

Over the years the polytechnic has recruited competent staff for its programmers and

admitted student from Nasarawa State, and other states of the federation as foreign

students.
 The computer science department was introduced after the establishment of the polytechnic

in the year 2000/2001 academic section with Mrs. Freda Agbeje as the acting head of

department (HOD) 2000/2001 with an average number of academic and non-academic staff

in the department from 2003 to 2005. In the year 2006/2007 Mallam Garba M. Rabiu was

appointed as the acting head of department. The department stated was more than 40

computers and accessories.

In polytechnic like Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, there is need for an automated

method of keeping data, more so a greater need for an online clearance system, most

especially Computer Science Department.

This would a long way in alleviating the various problems and stress involved in the

manual method of clearance. Moreover, the issue of delayed departmental clearance as a

result of mobility to complete the tedious manual process of clearance would be curtailed.

1.2 JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STUDY

As many higher institutions of academic learning have chosen to pursue the dynamic

educational options available online. The advantages of e-learning are many. As people of

all ages and backgrounds become increasingly reliant on the internet for information,

online learning becomes more convenient and efficient thereby bringing the need for an

online clearance system. The skills needed to access and comprehend information online

are becoming commonplace, and the flexibility of wireless computing means that any

coffee shop, airport or bedroom can become a classroom.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The processes of clearing students after their graduation requires that the students be cleared in

various departments and information units. Among which are:

 Library fines and overdue or lost library materials from the University

 Departmental Dues

 Infirmary and bookstore charges

 Residence hall damage charges

 Return of athletic equipment

 Student Union Fee

 Bursary and all other charges

For a graduating student to carry out his or her clearance from all these departments, it

normally takes a lot of time and a lot of processes and delays in clearing the student for

youth service as well as collection of statement of result. Hence it became imperative

for an online clearance system to eliminate the shortcomings of the manual system in

place.

1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objective of this computer software based online clearance system for the admitted and

current student of computer science department includes the following:

 To effectively and efficiently process student’s clearance.

 To provide a reliable and transparent system devoid of personal inclination and

interest.
  To ensure prompt clearance.

 To alleviate the problems and stress of travelling and queuing up of students

during clearance.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The project work will help in a good number of ways to ease the queuing of students as the

online clearance system will help students to achieve whatever they want to achieve

without coming to the department for manual clearance.

Online clearance system allows the users to check their clearance status as whether they are

in any way indebted to the school, fill and submit their clearance form, and obtain their

clearance letter. There are many other advantages of online clearance system and some of

them are listed below;

 It saves a lot of time.

 It is very convenient to use it right from the bedroom, office or anywhere in the

world.

 Information processing is very fast and delays can be avoided.

 It is inexpensive to students and the school management.

 It also helps the school in reducing cost such as labour and stationeries.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This project work is to develop computer software based on online clearance system for

clearance of Computer Science Department, Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia. The

 software development will be carried out using PHP, CSS, HTML, MYSQL for both front

and back end; XAMP as the localhost.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This project covers some of the aspect of a computer software based online clearance

system using computer science department, Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia as case

study.

However, the following are the constraints:

 Time Constraints: Due to limited time, the web-page covers only computer

science departmental clearance, Nasarawa state polytechnic by admitted students

and current students.

 Financial Constraints: Due to financial constraints students cannot afford this

kind of process online especially towards the cost of accessing the internet.

Therefore, it would cost a lot to develop a full web-based clearance system. Some

documents were considered confidential and were not made available.