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The Computer Program “Best Grade” Facilitates the Efficient Management and Storage of School-Related Documents

The computer program Best Grade helps in the creation and proper storage of all documents related to education. It has been available in Rwanda for four years and is provided free of charge to users, easing their workload. This program is built using Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). When student information is correctly filled in, it is saved and easily retrievable. Any time a document needed by students is required, it is generated automatically with a simple click. Some of the necessary documents include immediate access to student lists, student ID cards, school attendance confirmation letters, and many other documents related to education.

Prosper Kamana, an expert in developing and using computer programs and one of the local representatives of this software in Rwanda, says that Best Grade is designed in a user-friendly manner, as long as all necessary data is entered correctly in the appropriate fields.“The advantage of this software is that it doesn’t require advanced computer skills. If someone knows the basics, they can use it easily and speed up their work.” He added. Best Grade software is available in two languages: English and French.

  • How to Access Best Grade?

To access Best Grade, go to the website http://bestgrade.org/index.html, then navigate to the  “download” and fill in the required information in the form. The key requirement is providing a working email address. Once that is done, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a link to download the software. After downloading it, the next step is to install it on your computer, and it will be ready for use. You can also receive Best Grade from someone else and install it on your own computer and immediately start using it.

  • Some Schools Have Already Started Using Best Grade

In Rwanda, the Best Grade software has been introduced to 400 secondary schools, some of which continue to use it for managing their students’ information. Among them are schools in Ruhango District, which, according to Kamana, showed a higher participation rate compared to other districts.One user of this software, Claude Ruberwa Bigabo, the head of Gihogwe Secondary School, says that his school has been using the program for two years and that it has greatly simplified their school management tasks. Previously, everything was done manually, but now they can produce academic documents, especially report cards, efficiently. Ruberwa says: “Previously, we handled all tasks manually, but with the current system, report cards are now digitally generated clean, consistent, and free from manual errors or corrections. All data is clearly displayed. Occasionally, minor input errors, such as entering a zero, may trigger system glitches; however, in such cases, we consult IT support for prompt troubleshooting and resolution”.

Best Grade is currently used in five countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: Mali, Senegal, Benin, Uganda, and Rwanda supporting these countries in aligning with technological advancements in the education sector.

Source:
For more information, please refer to the original article on IGIHE, published on 10-06-2013 
https://mobile.igihe.com/ikoranabuhanga/mudasobwa/article/best-grade-umuti-ku-kibazo-cyo

Digitizing Education Assessment in Rwanda: Best Grade Software in Action

In the ongoing effort to modernize Rwanda’s educational system, the Rwanda Digital Schools project has introduced transformative digital tools to improve both teaching and student evaluation. Among the innovations adopted is Best Grade, a software platform now widely used across participating schools to manage and digitize student grading.

According to the Rwanda Digital Schools Phase 2 Interim Report (December 2022), “almost all schools now utilise Best Grade software which digitises the process of grading students, through a database. This has made the process of grading students simpler.” The software streamlines grade entry, management, and reporting replacing manual systems that were previously inefficient and prone to error.

The report highlights specific case studies where the software’s adoption has been particularly impactful. At Rutabo school, for instance, two teachers, Leoncie Tuyishimire and Callixte, trained all their colleagues on using Best Grade. As a result, Rutabo emerged as one of the top-performing schools in the project. Leoncie remarked, “Best Grade software digitises student grading and makes grading more efficient, since data is entered into a database.”

However, challenges remain. Gitanda school is noted as the only institution among the eight project schools that has not adopted Best Grade. Despite this, the principal is actively encouraging staff to integrate ICT into their teaching, using computer labs more regularly.

The implementation of Best Grade software exemplifies the project’s broader goals: enhancing digital literacy, improving educational quality, and standardizing academic assessments across Rwanda’s schools.

Reference:
Computer Aid International. (2022). Rwanda Digital Schools Phase 2 Interim Report, December 2022, pp. 11, 31. Retrieved from internal project documentation.

 

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