Children & Parents

Many Qondi learners are at school. This page explains, in plain language, how we protect learners under 18 and what parents and guardians can do.

Before a learner under 18 can use Qondi

1. When a learner signs up, we ask for their birth month and year. Learners must be at least 13.
2. If they are under 18, we ask for a parent or guardian's name and email, and email that person a link.
3. The parent or guardian reads what Qondi does and what information it uses, then chooses I agree or I don't agree.
4. Until the parent or guardian agrees, the learner cannot use Qondi, and no lessons are sent to our AI provider. If they don't agree, we delete the account.

This is the "prior consent of a competent person" that POPIA (section 35) requires before a child's personal information can be processed.

What Qondi uses

A learner's name, email, birth month, school details and learning preferences, the notes and screenshots they upload, their lessons, and the notes Qondi writes about how they learn. The Privacy Policy has the full list. We don't show adverts, we don't sell data, and nothing is used to train AI models.

How we keep learners safe

• There is no contact with other users. Learners can't message or see other people on Qondi. There are no public profiles.
• Age-appropriate tutoring. Qondi is told when a learner is under 18. It is instructed to keep content age-appropriate, never to ask for personal contact details or where someone lives, and to steer back to schoolwork.
• Wellbeing. If a learner seems distressed or mentions harm, Qondi responds with care. It points them to Childline (116, toll-free) or SADAG (0800 567 567), and encourages them to talk to a trusted adult. Qondi is not a counsellor.
• Honest learning. Qondi guides learners to work things out rather than handing over answers to submit. See Acceptable Use & Academic Honesty.
• Reporting. Learners can flag any answer as wrong or inappropriate, and our team reviews flagged answers.

What parents and guardians can do

• Ask us for a copy of your child's information, or ask us to correct or delete it. Email hello@qondi.co.za from the address you gave when you consented.
• Withdraw consent at any time. We will then close the account and delete the data (see the Privacy Policy for what we must keep, such as payment records).
• Buy or cancel a subscription. Paid plans for under-18s must be bought by a parent or guardian.
• Talk with your child about using Qondi well. It works best as a study partner, alongside their teacher.

Questions? Contact our Information Officer at hello@qondi.co.za.