Edusphere Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions and Platform Overview

Edusphere is an academic ecosystem and communication infrastructure designed to connect educational stakeholders in Ghana. The platform operates through six main functional areas:

1.1 Platform Sections

• Homepage: Public gateway presenting Edusphere's mission and registered schools
• Schools Section: Institutional profiles with academic information, classes, results, fees, events, gallery, staff, policies, and contact information
• Parents Section & Portal: Private access to child's information requiring authorization (PIN/access code)
• Students Dashboard: Private academic space with attendance, reports, homework, and behavior notes
• Events Page: Information center and promotional space for school events
• Announcements Page: Opportunity marketplace connecting teachers, schools, and parents without intermediaries

2. User Accounts and Responsibilities

2.1 Account Creation

Different user types require different registration processes:

• Schools: Must provide valid institutional documentation and authorization from school leadership
• Parents: Must be verified by their child's registered school and receive authorized access credentials
• Teachers: May create accounts for professional opportunities but school access requires institutional verification
• Students: Accounts are created and managed by their registered schools

2.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Immediately notifying Edusphere of any unauthorized use or security breach
• Ensuring that minors using the platform do so under appropriate supervision

3. Acceptable Use Policy

3.1 Permitted Uses

You may use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. Permitted uses include:

• Schools: Managing academic data, communicating with parents, promoting school activities
• Parents: Monitoring children's academic progress, communicating with schools, accessing school information
• Teachers: Seeking employment opportunities, connecting with schools, professional networking
• Students: Accessing academic materials, tracking performance, communicating with teachers

3.2 Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use the Service:

• For any unlawful purpose or to promote illegal activities
• To harass, abuse, or harm another person
• To impersonate or attempt to impersonate Edusphere, an Edusphere employee, another user, or any other person or entity
• To engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone's use or enjoyment of the Service
• To upload or transmit viruses or any other type of malicious code
• To collect or track personal information of others without their consent
• To interfere with or circumvent the security features of the Service
• To post false, inaccurate, or misleading information
• To use the platform for commercial solicitation without explicit permission

4. Data Privacy and Protection

4.1 Data Collection and Use

Edusphere collects and processes personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws, including Ghana's Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843). We collect:

• School Data: Institutional information, academic records, staff details
• Student Data: Academic performance, attendance records, personal information
• Parent Data: Contact information, access logs, communication history
• Usage Data: Platform interaction, feature usage, technical data

4.2 Data Responsibility

Schools using Edusphere are considered data controllers for student and parent information and must:

• Obtain necessary consents for data processing
• Ensure data accuracy and relevance
• Implement appropriate security measures
• Respond to data subject requests
• Comply with applicable data protection regulations

4.3 Data Retention

Data retention periods vary by data type:

• Academic Records: Retained for minimum of 7 years after student graduation or departure
• Parent Accounts: Active while student is enrolled, deactivated upon student departure
• School Profiles: Maintained while school is active on platform
• Announcements: Temporary, automatically removed after defined period

5. Intellectual Property Rights

5.1 Platform Ownership

Edusphere and its entire contents, features, and functionality (including but not limited to all information, software, text, displays, images, video, and audio, and the design, selection, and arrangement thereof) are owned by Buicer Consult, its licensors, or other providers of such material and are protected by copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws.

5.2 User Content

By submitting content to the platform, you grant Edusphere a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, and distribute such content for the purpose of operating and improving the Service. You retain ownership of your content but acknowledge that:

• Schools grant permission for their profile information to be publicly displayed
• Academic data shared with parents is accessible only to authorized users
• Announcements are temporary and automatically removed after expiration
• Event information may be publicly visible to promote school activities

5.3 Trademarks

The Edusphere name, logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of Buicer Consult or its affiliates or licensors. You must not use such marks without the prior written permission of Buicer Consult.

6. Platform Availability and Modifications

6.1 Service Availability

Edusphere strives to maintain 24/7 platform availability but does not guarantee uninterrupted access. The Service may be temporarily unavailable for:

• Scheduled maintenance and updates
• Emergency repairs
• Technical issues beyond our control
• Force majeure events

6.2 Platform Modifications

Edusphere reserves the right to:

• Modify or discontinue any Service feature
• Change pricing structures with 30 days' notice to affected schools
• Update platform functionality to improve user experience
• Remove content that violates these Terms

7. Limitation of Liability

7.1 General Limitation

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Edusphere and its affiliates, officers, employees, agents, partners, and licensors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from:

• Your access to or use of or inability to access or use the Service
• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Service
• Any content obtained from the Service
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content

7.2 Educational Disclaimer

Edusphere is a communication and management platform, not an educational institution. We do not:

• Guarantee academic outcomes or school performance
• Endorse or verify the quality of educational institutions on our platform
• Assume responsibility for school policies or educational content
• Guarantee the accuracy of information provided by schools

7.3 Maximum Liability

In no event shall Edusphere's total liability to you for all damages, losses, and causes of action exceed the amount paid by you, if any, for accessing the Service during the twelve (12) months prior to the claim.

8. Termination and Suspension

8.1 By Edusphere

Edusphere may terminate or suspend your account and access to the Service immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Breach of these Terms
• Violation of applicable laws or regulations
• Engaging in fraudulent or illegal activities
• Non-payment of applicable fees (for premium services)
• Request by law enforcement or other government agencies

8.2 By User

You may discontinue use of the Service at any time. For school accounts, formal termination requests must be submitted in writing with 30 days' notice to ensure proper data handling.

8.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the Service will immediately cease
• School profiles may be archived or removed based on school preference
• Academic data will be handled according to our data retention policy
• Parent and student access will be deactivated

9. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

9.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Ghana, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

9.2 Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Service shall be resolved through the following process:

1. Informal Negotiation: Parties shall attempt to resolve the dispute through good faith negotiation for 30 days
2. Mediation: If negotiation fails, parties shall attempt mediation through the Ghana Arbitration Centre
3. Legal Action: If mediation fails, parties may pursue legal action in the courts of Accra, Ghana

9.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

10. General Provisions

10.1 Changes to Terms

Edusphere reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by:

• Posting the updated Terms on our platform
• Sending notification to registered school administrators
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of these Terms

Your continued use of the Service after such modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

10.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

10.3 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Edusphere regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

10.4 Waiver

No waiver of any term of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term.

10.5 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without Edusphere's prior written consent. Edusphere may assign these Terms without restriction.

10.6 Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact:

Edusphere Legal Department
Buicer Consult
Education Innovation Hub
Accra Digital Centre, Accra, Ghana
Email: legal@edusphere.com
Phone: +233 24 123 4567