A Soft-Computing Based Course Timetabling System for Schools in Nigeria

Abstract

Timetabling, either course timetabling or examination timetabling is
one of the major factor that influences the academic performance of
any institutions. It’s a task that varies from one institution to another
depending on the identified constraints. Timetabling is a constraint
satisfaction problem whereby the primary goal is satisfying the amount
of constraints as much as possible. The task of generating timetable is
tedious, time consuming and getting a feasible timetable is not certain.
This research work provides solution to the problem encountered in
generating a timetable by designing and implementing a soft
computing based course timetabling system using genetic algorithm.
Genetic algorithm (GA) is one of soft computing techniques in solving
optimization problems and is an adaptive heuristic search which is
anchored on the principle of Darwin’s theory of natural selection and
genetics. The system is found useful and supportive in generating
timetable, as it saves the physical and mental stress undergone during
manual drafting of the timetable.