1. Information We Collect
We collect the following information when you use our app:
- Name and email address (when you register or log in)
- Profile information you provide
- Course progress and quiz results
- Device information and app usage data
- Profile photos or videos you choose to upload
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Create and manage your student account
- Track your course progress and issue certificates
- Send you notifications about new courses and updates
- Improve the app and our services
- Communicate important information about your account
3. Firebase Services
Our app uses Google Firebase for authentication, database storage, file storage, push notifications, and analytics. Your data is stored securely on Firebase servers. Please refer to Google's Privacy Policy for more information.
4. Cookies & Third-Party Services
Our website (royalmercyinstitute.co.za) uses cookies and loads resources from third-party services. We do not use advertising or behavioural tracking cookies. The cookies on our site are strictly functional and come from the following sources:
- Google Fonts - we load fonts from fonts.googleapis.com to display our website correctly. Google may set cookies and log your IP address when serving these fonts. See Google's Privacy Policy.
- Firebase Authentication - when you log in or create an account on our website, Firebase sets session cookies to keep you logged in. These are strictly necessary for authentication to work and cannot be disabled if you wish to use your account.
- Google Maps - our website embeds a Google Maps iframe to show our location. Google sets cookies when the map loads, even if you do not interact with it. See Google's Privacy Policy.
- YouTube - our Video Resources page embeds YouTube videos (via youtube-nocookie.com in a privacy-enhanced mode) that play when you click to watch them. Once a video is played, YouTube/Google may set cookies. See Google's Privacy Policy.
We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any other advertising or behavioural tracking tools. You can disable non-essential cookies in your browser settings at any time, though this may affect how some parts of the website display.
5. Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We only share data with service providers necessary to operate the app (such as Firebase/Google).
6. Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information. Your data is stored securely and access is restricted to authorised personnel only.
7. Your Rights
Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your account and data
- Opt out of marketing communications
- Lodge a complaint with our Information Officer if you believe your personal information has been mishandled, and to escalate that complaint to the Information Regulator of South Africa if you're not satisfied with our response
8. Information Officer
In compliance with POPIA, Royal Mercy Institute (PTY) Ltd has appointed and registered an Information Officer with the Information Regulator of South Africa, responsible for ensuring our compliance with data protection law and handling requests or complaints regarding your personal information.
Information Officer: Mohau Mokoena
Registration Number: 2026-064087
Registered with the Information Regulator: 10 August 2026
Contact: info@royalmercyinstitute.co.za
If you're not satisfied with how we've handled a data protection request or complaint, you may contact the Information Regulator directly:
The Information Regulator (South Africa)
Woodmead North Office Park, 54 Maxwell Drive, Woodmead, Johannesburg
P.O. Box 31533, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017
www.inforegulator.org.za
9. Children's Privacy
Royal Mercy Institute serves learners from Grade 2 to Grade 12 and beyond. Under POPIA a child is anyone under 18, and we process a child's personal information only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian (section 35 of POPIA). A parent or guardian must agree to this policy when a learner under 18 is registered, and should be involved in creating the account. That consent covers the processing described in this policy, including live classes and session recordings (section 10).
Parents of paying learners in Grades 2 to 12 can have their own parent login to follow their child's progress, quiz results, certificates, attendance and recordings.
Parents and guardians can contact our Information Officer at any time (see Section 8) to review, correct, or request deletion of their child's personal information.
10. Live Classes, Recordings and Monitoring
Live classes on RMI use video, sound, chat, a shared whiteboard and file sharing. To keep learners safe and to keep standards high, RMI monitors live classes: RMI staff may join or review any session, and we keep attendance (who joined, when and for how long), chat messages and files shared in the session.
Recordings. A tutor may choose to record a session. When a recording starts, everyone in the session is told and sees a "Recording" label for as long as it runs. Recordings are made for teaching quality, learner safety, dispute resolution and so learners can watch a lesson again.
- Who can see a recording: the tutor, the learners in that session and their parents, and RMI's Information Officer and authorised RMI staff. We never publish recordings or share them outside RMI unless the law requires it.
- Where they are kept: in secure cloud storage that only RMI controls. Our recording provider is Agora, which may process the video outside South Africa under contractual safeguards (section 72 of POPIA).
- How long: recordings, chat and shared files are kept for as long as they are needed for these purposes and are then deleted. You can ask our Information Officer to delete a recording of you or your child sooner, unless we must keep it, for example to deal with a complaint.
- Your choice: if you do not want to be recorded you can turn your camera and microphone off or leave the session, and you can tell the tutor or our Information Officer.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes through the app or by email.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
Royal Mercy Institute (PTY) Ltd
South Africa
General: info@royalmercyinstitute.co.za
Technical Support: support@royalmercyinstitute.co.za
Website: royalmercyinstitute.co.za