Introduction

At Abune Samuel School, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our school management system, or interact with our educational services.

We comply with Ethiopian data protection laws and strive to maintain the highest standards of data privacy and security. By using our Services, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

Our Commitment: We are dedicated to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all students, parents, and staff members. Your trust is important to us.

Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our educational services:

1. Personal Information

Category Examples
Student Information Full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, student ID, grade level, class assignments
Parent/Guardian Information Names, contact details (phone, email), address, occupation, relationship to student
Academic Records Grades, test scores, attendance records, teacher comments, progress reports
Health Information Medical conditions, allergies, immunization records, emergency contact information
Financial Information Payment records, fee statements, scholarship information, billing details

2. Technical Information

  • IP address and device information
  • Browser type and version
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited and time spent on our website
  • Login times and activity logs

3. Communication Information

  • Emails and messages sent through our systems
  • Phone call records (with consent)
  • Meeting notes and correspondence
  • Feedback and survey responses

How We Collect Information

We collect information through various methods:

Direct Collection

  • Admission Forms: Information provided during the application and enrollment process
  • Registration: Data entered when creating accounts on our portal
  • Communications: Information shared via email, phone, or in-person meetings
  • Forms and Documents: Various forms submitted throughout the academic year

Automatic Collection

  • Website Analytics: We use cookies and similar technologies to collect usage data
  • System Logs: Our systems automatically log access and activity
  • Photography: Photos and videos taken during school events (with consent)

Third-Party Sources

  • Previous schools (academic records and transcripts)
  • Government agencies (when required by law)
  • Payment processors (financial transaction data)

How We Use Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

Educational Services
  • Student enrollment and registration
  • Academic record management
  • Progress tracking and reporting
  • Class and teacher assignments
Communication
  • Parent-teacher communications
  • School announcements and updates
  • Emergency notifications
  • Newsletters and event invitations
Safety & Security
  • Campus security and access control
  • Emergency response coordination
  • Health and medical support
  • Attendance monitoring
Administration
  • Fee management and billing
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Compliance with regulations
  • School improvement planning

Sharing Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share information in the following circumstances:

Within the School

Information is shared among school staff on a need-to-know basis to provide educational services and ensure student safety.

With Third-Party Service Providers

We may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our school, such as:

  • Educational technology platforms
  • Payment processing services
  • Cloud storage providers
  • Communication tools

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide.

When Required by Law

We may disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court order or government agency).

With Consent

We may share information with third parties when we have obtained your explicit consent to do so.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

Encryption of data in transit and at rest
Secure access controls and authentication
Regular security audits and updates
Staff training on data protection
Firewalls and intrusion detection systems
Regular data backups
Important: While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Retention Periods:

  • Student Records: Retained for the duration of enrollment and as required by Ethiopian education regulations (typically 5 years after graduation or withdrawal)
  • Financial Records: Retained for 7 years as required by tax and accounting regulations
  • Account Information: Retained while the account is active and for a reasonable period thereafter
  • Communications: Retained as needed for administrative purposes

When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

Your Rights

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
  • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal requirements)
  • Restriction: Request restriction of processing your information
  • Data Portability: Request transfer of your information to another service provider
  • Objection: Object to processing of your information for certain purposes
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer using the information in the Contact section below. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

Children's Privacy

Our Services are primarily used by students under the age of 18. We take special care to protect children's privacy:

  • We collect student information only with parental/guardian consent
  • Parents/Guardians have access to their child's information and can request corrections
  • We do not require students to disclose more information than is reasonably necessary
  • Parents/Guardians can review their child's information and request deletion
  • We do not use student information for marketing purposes

If you believe we might have information from a child without proper consent, please contact us immediately.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website:

Types of Cookies We Use:

Cookie Type Purpose Duration
Essential Cookies Required for website functionality, login sessions, security Session / Persistent
Analytics Cookies Help us understand how visitors use our website Up to 2 years
Preference Cookies Remember your settings and preferences Up to 1 year

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

Third-Party Services

Our website may include links to third-party websites and services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

We may use third-party services such as:

  • Google Analytics for website analytics
  • Payment processors for fee collection
  • Educational platforms for learning management

These third parties have their own privacy policies governing the use of your information.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than Ethiopia where our service providers operate. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page with an updated effective date.

For significant changes, we may provide more prominent notice (such as email notification). We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Data Protection Officer:

Data Protection Officer
  • Mr. Aragaw Gebyihu
  • dpo@abunesamuelexam.com
  • +251 911 40 14 04
Administration Office
  • Abune Samuel School
  • P.O. Box 1234, Gondar, Ethiopia
  • info@abunesamuelexam.com