SchoolRipe Terms & Conditions

Welcome to SchoolRipe, a Multi-School Management System (SMS). These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the SchoolRipe platform and its services. By accessing or using the platform, you, as the institutional subscriber ("Client" or "School") and all authorized users (Admin, Principal, Teacher, Staff), agree to be bound by these Terms.

Agreement Preamble: The use of SchoolRipe is subject to a formal written Service Agreement between the Client and the platform operator ("We," "Us," or "The Platform"). These Terms supplement that agreement and apply to all users accessing the platform.

1. 📍 Location Collection and School Recommendation Service

   • Purpose of Location Collection: When you access or use SchoolRipe, we automatically collect your location information via IP address to provide you with relevant school recommendations in your vicinity. This is a core functionality of our platform that helps users discover and connect with schools near their location.
   • How We Collect Location: We collect location data automatically through:
     • IP address geolocation (automatic, cannot be disabled)
     • Address information you may voluntarily provide during registration
   • Mandatory Collection - Cannot Be Deleted: Location data is collected automatically via IP address as a core functionality of SchoolRipe. Users CANNOT delete or opt out of IP-based location collection because:
     • It powers the school search and recommendation feature
     • It enables sponsored search results in our Ad Center
     • It is essential for platform security and fraud prevention
   • Security & Unauthorized Access Detection: We use location data to enhance platform security. If we detect a login or access attempt from a different geographic location than usual, we may:
     • Send you a security alert notification
     • Request additional verification before granting access
     • Temporarily block suspicious access attempts
   • How We Use Location Data: Your location information is used for:
     • Displaying schools within a reasonable distance from your location
     • Sorting and ranking school search results by proximity
     • Sponsored Search Results: Our Ad Center uses your location to display relevant sponsored schools and advertisements that are geographically relevant to you
     • Detecting and preventing unauthorized account access
     • Improving our recommendation algorithms
   • Location Data Retention: Your IP-based location data is stored as long as your account remains active. Unlike other data, location information used for security monitoring is retained for fraud prevention purposes even after account deletion, in compliance with legal requirements.

2. 🔐 Data Privacy, Security, and No-Selling Commitment

   • No Data Selling: SchoolRipe DOES NOT and WILL NEVER sell, rent, lease, trade, or otherwise commercially exploit any user data, school data, or personal information to any third party. Your data is yours, and we respect that completely.
   • Data Never Leaves Our Servers: All school data, student records, staff information, and any other data entered into the SchoolRipe platform remains securely stored on our dedicated servers. We do not transfer, copy, or migrate your data to any external servers, third-party cloud providers, or external storage systems without your explicit written consent.
   • School Data Access Restrictions - EVEN ADMIN CANNOT ACCESS:
     • Platform Operator Access: The SchoolRipe platform operator, including system administrators and support staff, CANNOT access any school's private data (student records, academic information, financial data, etc.). Our architecture is designed with strict data isolation between schools.
     • School-Specific Data Isolation: Each school's data is completely isolated and accessible ONLY to that school's authorized users (System Admin, Principal, Teachers, and Staff).
     • No Cross-School Access: Under no circumstances can one school view, access, or retrieve data from another school on the platform.
     • Technical Safeguards: We implement multi-layered security protocols, encryption, and access control mechanisms that prevent even our own platform administrators from viewing school-specific data. Our database architecture uses per-school encryption keys that are not accessible to platform staff.
   • Data Encryption: All school data is encrypted both in transit (using TLS/SSL) and at rest (using AES-256 encryption). This ensures that even in the unlikely event of a security breach, your data remains unreadable and secure.
   • Limited Data Processing: Our only access to your data is automated, programmatic processing necessary for platform functionality (e.g., generating report cards, processing attendance, calculating fees). No human at SchoolRipe can view your school's private data unless you explicitly share it with our support team for troubleshooting purposes.
   • Third-Party Sharing: We do not share your data with any third parties except:
     • When required by law (court order, subpoena, legal obligation)
     • With your explicit written consent
     • To protect the security and integrity of our platform

3. Account, Access, and User Roles

   • Client Account: The primary institutional account is created by the Client/School administrator ("System Admin") and is used to manage multiple school instances within the system.
   • Authorized Users: The System Admin is solely responsible for adding staff (Admin, Principal, Teacher, Secretary, etc.) as authorized users and assigning the appropriate role-based access.
   • Accuracy of Information: All users agree to provide and maintain accurate, current, and complete information for their respective school, staff, and student records.
   • Security: All users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of their individual login credentials. The Client is liable for all activities that occur under its authorized user accounts.

4. Subscription, Fees, and Plan Changes

   • Fees: The Client agrees to pay all applicable fees based on the subscription plan selected and the terms outlined in the separate Service Agreement.
   • Upgrades: Clients can upgrade their subscription plan at any time. The new fee will be prorated and charged immediately, granting instant access to the upgraded features.
   • Downgrades (Caution Advised): Clients can downgrade their subscription plan; however, downgrades are irreversible. If a feature or service is removed due to a downgrade, regaining that feature will require a new purchase or upgrade, and the Client will be asked to pay the full price for that feature again. The Client is advised to proceed with extreme caution when making a plan downgrade.

5. Content and Data Ownership

   • Client Data Ownership: The Client/School retains all ownership rights to the data input into the system, including all staff involvements and student personal information, academic records, schedules, and documents generated on the platform (report cards, marks, etc.).
   • Data Processing License: By using the service, the Client grants the Platform a limited, non-exclusive license to process, host, store, and transmit the Client Data solely for the purpose of providing the agreed-upon SchoolRipe services.
   • Platform IP: All software, design, code, and foundational structure of the SchoolRipe platform remain the exclusive property of the Platform operator.

6. User Responsibilities and Acceptable Use

   • Lawful Use: Users must only use the platform in compliance with all applicable local, national, and international laws, particularly those governing data privacy and student records.
   • Prohibited Conduct: Users must not engage in any activity that interferes with or disrupts the integrity or performance of the platform or attempts to gain unauthorized access to any part of the service.
   • Compliance: The Client is responsible for ensuring all its authorized staff users comply with these Terms.

7. Promo Code and Referral Earning Program

   • Promo Codes: Authorized users may be provided with unique promo codes to share with potential new institutional clients (schools).
   • Default Earning Rate: The default earning gain for each successful promo code usage is 3% of the new Client's initial subscription price.
   • Tiered Earning Boost: For every ten (10) successful usages of a user's unique promo code, their earning rate will increase by an additional 1%.
   • Maximum Earning Rate: The maximum achievable earning rate is capped at 10% of the new Client's initial subscription price.
   • Program Terms: Participation is opened to all users of the system, and The Platform reserves the right to audit the use of promo codes and withhold payments for fraudulent activity.

8. Termination and Suspension

   • Termination by Client: The Client may terminate the service pursuant to the terms outlined in the primary Service Agreement.
   • Suspension/Termination by the Platform: The Platform may suspend or terminate access to the service immediately if a user breaches a material term of this document, including non-payment of fees or serious misuse of the platform.
   • Data After Termination: Following termination, the Client is responsible for retrieving all necessary Client Data. The Platform will delete all Client Data within a defined period as stated in the Privacy Policy and Service Agreement.

9. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

   • "As-Is" Service: The SchoolRipe platform is provided on an "as-is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied.
   • Data Accuracy: The Platform is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the Client Data entered into the system by the Client's staff.
   • Limitation of Liability: To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Platform operator shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to the use of the platform.

10. School Data Retention and Deletion Policy

    • To ensure optimal platform performance and data management, SchoolRipe implements an automated school data retention policy based on subscription status.
    • Deletion Schedule:
      • Schools that never subscribed will be permanently deleted after 3 months of creation.
      • Schools that only activated a free trial (30 days or less) will be permanently deleted after 4 months of creation.
      • Schools that had an active subscription of at least 1 year will be permanently deleted after 2 years of inactivity (no active subscription).
    • Warning Notifications: School owners will receive weekly email notifications starting 2 months before the scheduled deletion date, reminding them to renew their subscription to prevent data loss.
    • Data Deletion Scope: When a school is deleted, ALL associated data is permanently removed from our systems, including:
      • All student records, profiles, and uploaded images
      • Teacher and staff accounts and information
      • School documents and verification files
      • Class schedules, assignments, and academic records
      • All advertisements and marketing campaigns
      • Financial records and wallet balances
      • All school-related data and configurations
    • Data Recovery: Once a school is deleted, data recovery is NOT possible. School owners are strongly advised to maintain an active subscription or export important data before deletion.
    • Exemption: Schools with an active subscription at any point during the retention period are exempt from deletion. Simply maintaining an active subscription ensures your school data remains safe.

11. General Terms

    • Governing Law: These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Cameroon.
    • Changes to Terms: The Platform reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Significant changes will be communicated to the System Admin via the platform or email. Continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

By using SchoolRipe, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions. If you have any questions, please contact us at support@schoolripe.com.