Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 26, 2023

The Beacon of Learning Academy ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services. We are located at Plot 42, Nakasero Road, Kampala, Uganda and can be reached at +256 486 238770 or via email at privacy@beaconlearningacademy.ac.ug.

Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our website and services, including:

• Personal Information: This includes information that can be used to identify you, such as your name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth, and educational background. We collect this information when you apply for admission, register for programs, subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us.
• Student Information: For enrolled students, we collect information related to their academic performance, attendance records, disciplinary actions, and health information (with appropriate consent).
• Financial Information: We collect payment information, such as credit card details or bank account information, when you make payments for tuition fees or other services. This information is processed securely through our payment gateway provider.
• Website Usage Data: We collect information about your interactions with our website, such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, and the dates/times of your visits. We use cookies and similar technologies to collect this information. Please see our Cookies Policy for more details.
• Communication Data: We retain records of your communications with us, including emails, letters, and phone calls. This helps us to provide better customer service and resolve any issues you may have.
• Photographs and Videos: We may take photographs and videos of students and events for promotional and educational purposes, with appropriate consent obtained where required.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• Providing and Improving Our Services: We use your information to provide you with access to our website, programs, and services, and to improve their functionality and user experience.
• Processing Admissions and Enrollment: We use your information to process your application for admission, enroll you in our programs, and manage your student record.
• Communicating with You: We use your information to communicate with you about our programs, services, events, and important updates. This includes sending you newsletters, promotional emails, and notifications.
• Personalizing Your Experience: We use your information to personalize your experience on our website and tailor our services to your individual needs and interests.
• Conducting Research and Analysis: We use your information to conduct research and analysis to improve our programs, services, and marketing efforts.
• Complying with Legal Obligations: We use your information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.
• Protecting Our Rights and Interests: We use your information to protect our rights and interests, such as preventing fraud and enforcing our terms and conditions.

Sharing Your Information

We may share your information with the following categories of recipients:

• Service Providers: We share your information with third-party service providers who assist us with various aspects of our business, such as website hosting, payment processing, email marketing, and data analytics. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.
• Educational Partners: We may share student information with educational partners, such as universities and vocational training institutions, for academic collaboration and placement purposes.
• Government Authorities: We may disclose your information to government authorities, such as the Ministry of Education and Sports, when required by law or legal process.
• Legal Advisors: We may share your information with our legal advisors in connection with legal matters or proceedings.
• Other Third Parties: We may share your information with other third parties with your consent or as otherwise permitted by law.

We will not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include:

• Encryption: We use encryption to protect sensitive information, such as payment details, during transmission and storage.
• Firewalls: We use firewalls to protect our servers and networks from unauthorized access.
• Access Controls: We restrict access to your information to authorized personnel only.
• Regular Security Audits: We conduct regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
• Employee Training: We train our employees on data privacy and security best practices.

While we strive to protect your information, no security system is impenetrable. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including providing you with our services, complying with legal obligations, and resolving disputes. The specific retention period will depend on the type of information and the applicable legal requirements.

Student records are typically retained for a period of seven years after graduation or withdrawal, as required by the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information we hold about you.
• Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Objection: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, such as marketing.
• Restriction: You have the right to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Data Portability: You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit it to another controller.

To exercise your rights, please contact us at privacy@beaconlearningacademy.ac.ug. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to remove the information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post any changes on our website and update the effective date above. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about our data privacy practices.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data privacy practices, please contact us at:

The Beacon of Learning Academy
Plot 42, Nakasero Road
Kampala, Uganda
Phone: +256 885 934985
Email: privacy@beaconlearningacademy.ac.ug

Data Protection Officer

We have appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) to oversee our data privacy practices. Our DPO is Ms. Aisha Nakato, and she can be reached at aisha.nakato@beaconlearningacademy.ac.ug.

Applicable Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of Uganda, including the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019.