Student Information Systems: Features, Comparison, and Selection Guide

A Student Information System (SIS) is the backbone of any digitally managed school. It stores, organizes, and retrieves student data — from enrollment records and academic transcripts to attendance history and disciplinary notes. For schools in Bangladesh managing hundreds or thousands of students across multiple sections and shifts, choosing the right SIS determines whether digital transformation succeeds or stalls.

Core Features Every SIS Must Have

Student Profile Management

At minimum, an SIS must maintain comprehensive student records: personal details, guardian information, admission date, class and section assignments, roll numbers, and photographs. In Bangladesh, this also means storing birth certificate numbers and, for secondary students, board registration numbers for SSC and HSC examinations. A well-designed SIS allows bulk import from spreadsheets during initial setup and supports data export for board submissions.

Attendance Tracking

Manual attendance registers are error-prone and time-consuming to analyze. A digital SIS should support daily attendance entry by class teachers — either via a web dashboard or mobile app — and generate automated reports showing student-wise and class-wise attendance percentages. For institutions where the Ministry of Education requires attendance reports, the system should produce compliant output formats.

Academic Records and Grading

The SIS must support the grading structure relevant to its market. In Bangladesh, this means accommodating the NCTB grading scale (A+ through F, with grade points from 5.0 to 0.0), the new competency-based assessment framework introduced in 2023, and the continuous assessment model used in primary education. The system should calculate GPA automatically and produce mark sheets that match official formats.

Parent and Guardian Portal

Modern SIS platforms include a parent-facing portal or app where guardians can check attendance, view exam results, pay fees, and communicate with teachers. In Bangladesh, where smartphone usage is widespread, providing a lightweight mobile experience is essential for parent engagement.

On-Premise vs Cloud-Based Deployment

On-Premise Solutions

On-premise systems are installed on the school's local servers. They offer complete data control and work without internet connectivity — a real advantage for rural Bangladeshi schools with unreliable broadband. However, they require upfront hardware investment, ongoing IT maintenance, and manual backup management. Scaling to multiple branches is complex.

Cloud-Based Solutions

Cloud-hosted SIS platforms eliminate hardware costs and provide automatic updates, backups, and accessibility from any device. Digital School by Nexis Limited operates as a cloud-based platform, allowing schools to start with zero infrastructure investment. Teachers can enter grades from home, principals can monitor operations remotely, and parents receive real-time updates via mobile notifications.

Comparing Popular SIS Options for Bangladeshi Schools

International Platforms

Global SIS products like PowerSchool and Infinite Campus are built for the American K-12 system. While feature-rich, they do not support NCTB grading, Bengali language, or local payment gateways. Licensing costs typically start at $5-10 per student per year, which exceeds the budget of most Bangladeshi institutions.

Open-Source Solutions

Open-source platforms like OpenSIS and Fedena offer free core software but require technical expertise to deploy, customize, and maintain. Schools without dedicated IT staff find these impractical. Customization for NCTB-specific requirements must be done manually, with no vendor support.

Locally Built Platforms

Bangladesh-specific solutions like Digital School are designed around local requirements: NCTB grading, Bengali interfaces, bKash/Nagad payment integration, and SMS notifications through local gateways. These platforms are typically priced for the Bangladeshi market, with subscription models that scale from small madrasas to large school networks.

Selection Criteria: A Practical Framework

When evaluating SIS options, schools should assess five dimensions:

• Curriculum compatibility: Does it support your specific grading and assessment structure?
• Language support: Is Bengali available for data entry, reports, and the parent portal?
• Total cost of ownership: Consider licensing, hardware, training, and ongoing maintenance.
• Scalability: Can it handle growth in student numbers or additional branches?
• Vendor stability: Is the vendor likely to provide long-term support and updates?

Implementation Best Practices

Successful SIS deployment requires more than purchasing software. Schools should begin with a data audit — cleaning and organizing existing records before migration. Phased rollout, starting with one module (such as attendance) and expanding over a term, reduces disruption. Dedicated training sessions for teachers and administrative staff are non-negotiable.

Nexis Limited provides implementation support including data migration, staff training, and ongoing technical assistance to ensure that schools realize the full value of their investment. Visit the products page to explore available solutions, or contact us for a personalized demo.