FOR OUR-SCHOOL
A Division of The Global Merchant Pty Ltd
Last Updated: 24 September 2026
Welcome to OUR-SCHOOL (“we”, “us”, “our”). We are committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our users, including instructors, parents, guardians, and students. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit or use our platform, in strict compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, No. 4 of 2013 (POPIA) of South Africa.
By accessing or using OUR-SCHOOL, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect personal information to provide a secure and customized learning experience. The information we gather falls into the following categories:
- Account Registration Data: Names, email addresses, phone numbers, and account passwords for instructors, parents, and students.
- Student Information: Grade level (e.g., Grade R to Grade 12), course progress, assignment submissions, quiz results, and academic performance indicators.
- Payment Information: For premium course collections, billing details are processed securely through our chosen payment gateway provider, Payfast. We do not store full credit card numbers or financial credentials on our servers.
- Profile Media: Photos or avatars uploaded by instructors (e.g., profile cover banners) and students to personalize their dashboard.
- Technical Data: IP addresses, browser types, device identifiers, and platform usage metrics collected automatically via cookies.
2. Protection of Children’s Privacy (Special Personal Information)
Because OUR-SCHOOL serves minors (learners under the age of 18 from Grade R to Grade 12), we treat child data with maximum sensitivity:
- Parental Consent: The creation of student profiles must be initiated or authorized by a competent adult, parent, or legal guardian.
- Strict Utilization: We strictly limit the collection of children’s personal information to what is textually and functionally necessary to deliver academic curriculum services.
- No Commercial Exploitation: We never sell, rent, or target advertisements at student accounts using their personal behavioral data.
3. How We Use Your Information
We process your personal information for lawful business purposes based on your consent, contract fulfillment, or legitimate interest under POPIA:
- To manage student enrollments and track academic progress across CAPS course collections.
- To enable instructors to manage profiles, host virtual classrooms, and grade curriculum activities.
- To process financial transactions securely through Payfast.
- To maintain, optimize, and protect the security of the OUR-SCHOOL digital platform.
4. Direct Marketing and Email Newsletters
We value communication with parents and guardians to keep you informed about student milestones, platform updates, and relevant educational opportunities:
- Consent-Based Communication: Email newsletters and direct marketing communications are directed exclusively to parents and guardians.
- Opt-In Protocol: In accordance with POPIA, new users will be asked to explicitly consent (opt-in) to receive promotional materials and newsletters during registration.
- Easy Opt-Out: Every marketing email sent will feature a prominent, clear, and functional “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom. Parents can withdraw their marketing consent at any time, immediately halting future updates without affecting active course access.
5. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information. We only share data with your explicit consent or under the following conditions:
- Instructors and Educators: Students’ academic data within specific courses is visible to their registered instructors for grading and mentorship.
- Service Providers: We share necessary data with trusted third-party providers who manage infrastructure, cloud storage, and payment processing (Payfast) under strict confidentiality agreements.
- Legal Mandates: We may disclose information if required by South African law or to comply with official requests from legal authorities.
6. Data Security
We implement robust technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or destruction. These measures include data encryption, firewalls, and restricted employee access protocols.
7. Your Rights Under POPIA
As a user (or parent/guardian of a user), you hold the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Right of Access: You can request confirmation of whether we hold your personal information and obtain a copy of it.
- Right to Correction: You can request that we update, correct, or delete inaccurate or out-of-date information.
- Right to Objection: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
- Right to Deletion: You may request the permanent removal of your account and associated data, subject to legal data-retention requirements.
8. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services or changes in South African regulatory requirements. The “Last Updated” date at the top of the page will show when the latest revisions took effect.
9. Contact Information & Information Officer
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights under POPIA, or need to contact our Information Officer, please reach out to us at:
- Company Entity: The Global Merchant Pty Ltd (OUR-SCHOOL Division)
- Email Support: admin@our-school.co.za
- Physical Address:
The Global House
Bluff Road
Fynnlands
Bluff
Durban, 4052