Data Protection & Privacy Policy

01 Introduction and scope

This Data Protection & Privacy Policy (the "Policy") explains how Tuition Masters Pte Ltd ("Tuition Masters", "we", "us", "our") handles, collects and processes personal data provided by users of our platform and services.

Who this policy refers to

• User — anyone who visits this website, downloads our apps, or uses any Tuition Masters service.
• Tutor — anyone who registers with us to receive tuition assignments.
• Tutee — a student, parent or guardian who contacts us through the website, phone, WhatsApp, email or social media to find a tutor or request tuition.

Using our website or services means you accept this Policy and consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal data as described here. If you do not agree with it, please do not use our website or services.

This Policy sits alongside our Terms & Conditions. Where local law requires it, we will cooperate with the relevant Singapore authorities. In line with the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 ("PDPA"), we have appointed a Data Protection Officer — see section 16.

02 Personal data we collect

"Personal data" means data about an individual who can be identified from that data, or from that data combined with other information we hold. We collect it in two ways: you give it to us, or it is recorded automatically as you use our services.

If you give us someone else's personal data — a child, spouse, ward or referral — you confirm you have their consent to share it with us for the purposes set out in this Policy.

03 Why we collect it

We use personal data only for purposes a reasonable person would consider appropriate, namely to:

• Operate, maintain and improve this website, our apps and our services
• Create and manage user, parent and tutor profiles
• Shortlist tutors and run the matching process end to end
• Verify tutor qualifications and teaching credentials
• Arrange lessons, handle rescheduling and process payments or commissions
• Respond to enquiries and provide customer support
• Analyse usage so we can improve how the platform works
• Detect, investigate and address misuse, fraud, disputes or breaches of our terms
• Send service updates and, where you have not opted out, relevant promotional material
• Meet our legal, regulatory and accounting obligations in Singapore

We observe the Do Not Call Provisions of the PDPA and do not send unsolicited marketing to the general public. You can withdraw consent to marketing at any time by replying to any message or emailing us.

04 Students and children's data

Tuition Masters provides tuition-matching services for students, including children and young persons. However, the Tuition Masters application is intended for adults, including parents/guardians and tutors, and is not intended for independent use by children. Our services are meant to be arranged by a parent or legal guardian, and we ask that anyone under 18 does not submit personal data to us directly without a parent or guardian's involvement.

• We collect only what is needed to arrange tuition — the student's first name, level, subjects and general study needs.
• A student's academic information is shared with a shortlisted tutor only to the extent needed to teach effectively.
• We do not build advertising profiles of students or use student data for behavioural advertising.
• A parent or guardian may ask us at any time to review or delete the data we hold about their child.

05 Tutor profile visibility

To help parents choose, some tutor information may be shown publicly or to tutees reviewing a shortlist.

May be visible

• First name, age, gender and profile photo
• Race, where the tutor has chosen to provide it
• Educational background and qualifications
• Teaching experience, subjects and levels
• Preferred teaching locations and availability

Never made public

• Full name
• Phone number, email address and home address
• Bank account or payment details
• Certificates, transcripts and identification documents

Tutors can select a private profile during registration, in which case their details are shown only to a specific tutee during an active match.

06 Location information from tutees

Home tuition depends on travel distance, so we collect general location data such as your postal code or district to recommend tutors nearby.

We do not display your exact address to tutors without your consent. If you prefer, you may give a nearby landmark, MRT station or the first few digits of your postal code instead. Your full address is shared only once you have confirmed an assignment with a specific tutor.

07 Data sharing during matching

Our matching process follows PDPA-compliant practice at each step:

1. We seek a tutor's approval before sharing their qualifications and profile with a tutee.
2. Early communications between tutor and tutee are relayed through Tuition Masters, not exchanged directly.
3. Contact details are released to both parties only once an assignment is confirmed.
4. In a dispute, we disclose data only where the law requires it or where it is necessary to resolve the matter fairly.

08 Disclosure to third parties

We do not sell personal data. We may disclose it to:

• Government agencies, regulators, law enforcement or courts, where legally required
• Payment processors and banks, to collect fees and pay tutors
• IT, hosting, communications and analytics providers who operate our platform on our behalf
• Professional advisers such as auditors, lawyers or insurers
• Any party where disclosure is needed to address a violation of our terms, a security incident or a technical fault

Service providers act on our instructions under contractual confidentiality and security obligations, and may use the data only for the service they provide to us. Safeguards apply in particular to any transfer outside Singapore (section 13).

09 Cookies and tracking

This website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Authenticate users and keep sessions secure
• Remember your preferences and form progress
• Keep the site working correctly across pages and devices
• Measure traffic and understand how the site performs

You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Some parts of the site — enquiry forms and logged-in areas in particular — may not work properly if essential cookies are disabled.

10 Our mobile apps

The Tuition Masters apps for iOS and Android are covered by this same Policy and are intended for adults aged 18 and above. In addition to the data above, the apps may process device identifiers, app version and crash diagnostics, and — only with your permission — device location to show assignments near you and push notifications to alert you to new matches and messages.

You can withdraw location or notification permission at any time in your device settings, and you can request deletion of your app account and its data using the contact details in section 16.

11 Retention and deletion

We keep personal data only as long as it serves the purpose it was collected for, or as long as we are required to keep it for legal, tax, accounting or dispute-resolution reasons.

Deletion requests are actioned within 7 working days of verification. Some records may be retained beyond that where the law permits or requires it — for example transaction records, or evidence relevant to an ongoing dispute.

If Tuition Masters is involved in a merger, acquisition, restructuring or transfer of assets, user data may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this Policy continuing to apply.

12 How we protect data

We apply physical, technical and procedural safeguards designed to protect personal data against loss, misuse and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Access is restricted to authorised personnel who are bound by confidentiality obligations and need the data to do their job.

No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. While we maintain high standards, we cannot guarantee absolute security, and you share information with us on that understanding.

13 Transfers outside Singapore

Some of our hosting, communications and analytics providers store or process data on servers located outside Singapore. By using our services you agree that your data may be transferred and stored in another country.

Where we transfer personal data overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure the recipient provides a standard of protection comparable to the PDPA, including through contractual commitments. We cannot, however, guarantee protection against breaches by third parties outside our control or jurisdiction.

14 Your rights under the PDPA

Subject to the exceptions in the PDPA, you may ask us to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you and how it has been used or disclosed in the past year
• Correct any personal data that is inaccurate or out of date
• Withdraw consent to any use of your data, including marketing — note that withdrawing consent may mean we can no longer match you with a tutor
• Delete your data where we are not required to keep it

15 Changes to this policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. The current version is always published on this page and mirrored at our policy endpoint, which our mobile apps read. The "last updated" date at the top shows when it last changed, and continuing to use our services after an update means you accept the revised Policy.

16 Contact us and our DPO

For any question, request or complaint about your personal data, reach us here. Mark data protection matters "Attn: Data Protection Officer" so they are routed correctly.

If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your request, you may refer the matter to the Personal Data Protection Commission of Singapore.