Privacy Policy

Introduction

PathwaySA ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

This policy is compliant with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa (Act 4 of 2013) and other applicable data protection laws. By using PathwaySA, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

When you register for an account or use our services, you may voluntarily provide us with the following personal information:

• Account Information: Email address, password, full name
• Profile Information: Location, matric year, education status, biography, profile picture
• Educational Data: Subject marks, APS scores, course information, GPA calculations
• Financial Information: Budget data, expense categories (stored locally on your device)
• Career Information: Career quiz responses, job application tracking
• Community Content: Posts, comments, and interactions on community walls

Information Collected Automatically

When you access our services, we automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on site
• Analytics Data: Session information, interactions, and user journey data
• Error Logs: Technical errors and crash reports to improve our services

Information from Third Parties

If you choose to sign in using Google OAuth, we receive your email address and basic profile information from Google, as authorized by you.

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: To create and manage your account, provide personalized recommendations, and enable access to our tools and features
• Communication: To send you service updates, respond to inquiries, and provide support
• Improvement: To analyze usage patterns and improve our services, tools, and user experience
• Security: To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, and security concerns
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• Community Features: To enable posting, commenting, and interaction on community walls

Data Storage and Security

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

• Your account data is stored securely using Supabase, a trusted cloud database provider with enterprise-grade security
• Passwords are encrypted and never stored in plain text
• All data transmissions are encrypted using HTTPS/TLS
• Row-Level Security (RLS) ensures users can only access their own data
• Many tool-specific data (like budget calculations, flashcards) is stored locally on your device and never transmitted to our servers

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may process your data:

Cookies and Local Storage

We use cookies and local storage to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for authentication and basic site functionality
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings like dark mode preference
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use our services
• Local Storage: Stores tool data (flashcards, budget info, etc.) on your device

For more details, please see our Cookie Policy.

Your Rights Under POPIA

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal information
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for processing at any time
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with the Information Regulator

Children's Privacy

PathwaySA is designed for students typically aged 17 and older (Grade 12 and beyond). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 without parental consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

International Data Transfers

Some of our third-party service providers may process data outside of South Africa. When this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with POPIA requirements. These providers maintain security standards and privacy practices that meet or exceed South African requirements.

Changes to This 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 and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

Contact Us

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

You may also lodge a complaint with the South African Information Regulator: