Automated Lecture Time-tabling System for Tertiary Institutions

The need to automate the manual process of lecture time tabling system in higher institution of learning cannot be set aside. Despite the fact that several other administrative sectors of most institution have been automated, lecture time-tabling is still done manually because of its inherent problems. Planning lecture time table is an administrative responsibility that demands enormous attention and effort from any institution because of its constraint satisfaction problem. The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, the case study in this research operates a central time tabling system implemented by a set up committee members within the institution, which makes it more difficult in getting a flawless lecture scheduling. This manual time-tabling system used in the institution is time consuming and energy sapping which leads to loss of information, general apathy, clashes and wastage of resources. This research is targeted at ameliorating the above stated challenges. The main aim of the study is to develop an automated lecture time-tabling system to provide convenience in scheduling lecture time-table, reducing time constraints in fixing the courses and venues and reducing the risk of omission of courses and clashes of halls and lecturers. The scope of work is limited to space allocation for lectures and merging of similar courses for a particular lecturer. We also administered questionnaire to sample staff, committee members and student opinion on the existing system and the new system to be developed. The data gathered was analyzed and based on the analysis; the new system (automated time tabling system) will be the best method in tackling the lapses experienced by the old system (manual time table).