Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Gobez Academy (ጎበዝ አካዳሚ) ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting the privacy and safety of children who use our educational platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you or your child uses our services.

Information We Collect

1. Information Provided by Parents/Guardians

When a parent or guardian creates an account for their child, we may collect:

• Parent/guardian name and contact information (email, phone number)
• Child's name, and grade level
• School information (if applicable)
• Location information (region, zone/sub-city, woreda, school)
• Account credentials (username and encrypted password)

2. Information Collected Automatically

When your child uses our platform, we automatically collect:

• Device information (device type, operating system, browser type)
• Usage data (pages visited, time spent, activities completed)
• Learning progress and performance data
• IP address (for security and analytics purposes)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (for functionality and security)
• Audio Data: When using voice-interactive features, we collect audio recordings. These are used strictly to evaluate pronunciation and provide educational feedback. Audio data is encrypted during transmission and stored securely.

3. Information We Do NOT Collect

We do NOT collect:

• Precise geolocation data
• Photos or videos of children (unless explicitly uploaded by parents/teachers)
• Social media account information
• Payment information (handled by secure third-party processors if applicable)
• Any information from third-party social networks

How We Use Information

We use the information we collect solely for educational and platform improvement purposes:

• To Provide Educational Services: Deliver personalized learning content, track progress, and provide educational games and activities.
• To Communicate: Send important updates about the platform, learning progress, and respond to inquiries.
• To Improve Our Platform: Analyze usage patterns to enhance user experience and develop new features.
• To Ensure Safety: Monitor for inappropriate content, prevent fraud, and maintain platform security.
• To Comply with Legal Requirements: Meet our legal obligations and respond to legal requests.
• To Provide Support: Assist parents, teachers, and administrators with platform-related questions.
• Speech Evaluation: To process and analyze audio recordings for pronunciation practice, AI-driven speech evaluation, and speech-to-text functionality within our educational modules.

Mobile Application Permissions

Our Android and iOS applications request certain permissions:

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do NOT sell, rent, or trade children's personal information. We may share information only in the following limited circumstances:

• With Parental Consent: We may share information with third parties only with explicit parental consent.
• With School Administrators: If your child's account is linked to a school, we may share progress data with authorized school personnel.
• Service Providers: We may share information with trusted service providers who help us operate our platform under strict confidentiality agreements.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the safety of users.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger or acquisition, information may be transferred, but privacy protections will continue.

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect children's information:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest.
• Secure authentication and access controls.
• Regular security audits and updates.
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis.
• Secure hosting infrastructure.
• Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to provide our educational services and comply with legal obligations. When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

Parents can request deletion of their child's information at any time by contacting us. We will delete the information within a reasonable timeframe, except where we are required to retain it by law.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Maintain user sessions and authentication.
• Remember user preferences.
• Analyze platform usage and improve functionality.
• Ensure platform security.

We do NOT use cookies for behavioral advertising or tracking children across other websites. Parents can control cookie settings through their browser preferences.

International Users

Our platform is primarily designed for users in Ethiopia. If you are accessing our platform from outside Ethiopia, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in Ethiopia. By using our platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to Ethiopia.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify parents of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date.
• Sending an email notification to registered parent accounts.
• Displaying a notice on the platform.
• Continued use of our platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Interpretation and Definitions