Overview, Purpose & Scope of this Policy

Welcome to Tamil Gurukulam (also operating as Tamil Gurukulam Academy, "we", "us", or "our"), an educational consortium dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching the rich, classical Tamil language to children and families across 25+ countries worldwide.

This Privacy Policy establishes how we collect, process, manage, store, and protect the personal and academic data of users accessing our services. This policy applies comprehensively across all interactions with Tamil Gurukulam, including but not limited to:

• Our official website located at https://tamilgurukulam.com and all affiliated subdomains;
• Our online student registration wizards and enrollment forms (/register/);
• Our live weekend orientation booking and child language skill assessment portals (/orientation/);
• Digital advertising and lead generation campaigns run on Meta platforms (including Facebook Instant Forms, Instagram Lead Ads, and Meta Pixel);
• Our secure learning management platforms, including the Student Portal and the Parent Communication Portal (PCP);
• Electronic payment checkouts facilitated through authorized third-party payment gateways (Razorpay and PayPal);
• All direct customer service communications initiated via WhatsApp, email, telephone, or website contact forms.

By accessing our website, booking an orientation, submitting a registration form, or engaging with our advertisements, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and consented to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please do not use our services or submit personal information.

Information We Collect & Method of Collection

In order to deliver quality language education, evaluate student proficiency, maintain classroom rosters, and ensure seamless communication with parents, we collect specific categories of information:

2.1 Information Provided by Parents & Legal Guardians

When you register your child, book an orientation session, or request information, we collect:

• Parent / Guardian Identity: Full name, relationship to student (father, mother, legal guardian), and primary language spoken at home.
• Contact Details: Verified email address, mobile telephone number, and active WhatsApp number (used for instant class schedule links and alerts).
• Geographic Location & Timezone: Country of residence, state/province, city, postal code, and local timezone (critical for coordinating live international online class batches across the USA, UK, Singapore, UAE, Australia, etc.).
• Mailing Address: Full residential postal address where course materials, workbooks, or physical learning resources need to be delivered.

2.2 Student & Child Information (Educational Data)

To assign students into the appropriate curriculum level (from beginner Arumbu to advanced Alar), we collect:

• Student Identity: Child’s full name, date of birth, age, and gender.
• Academic Profile: Current regular school grade/standard, prior exposure to Tamil (reading, writing, speaking, or zero prior knowledge).
• Learning Preferences: Preferred batch days (weekdays / weekends), session timing preferences, and any specific learning considerations.

2.3 Orientation & Child Assessment Data

During our free live orientation classes, our certified Tamil educators evaluate the student’s conversational comprehension and alphabet familiarity. We record:

• Selected orientation date, time slot, and attendance status;
• Teacher assessment remarks, linguistic evaluation score, and course level recommendations;
• Meeting room participation logs.

2.4 Data Collected via Facebook & Instagram Instant Forms (Lead Ads)

When parents express interest in Tamil Gurukulam through advertisements on Meta platforms (Facebook / Instagram) by filling an in-app Instant Form, we receive the fields authorized by the user, typically including:

• Parent's Full Name;
• Parent's Email Address;
• Parent's Mobile / WhatsApp Phone Number;
• City, State & Country of Residence;
• Child's Approximate Age or Current Grade;
• Preferred language learning goal (Speaking Tamil, Reading & Writing, or Beginners Foundation).

2.5 Payment & Billing Transaction Records

When you pay course fees, our payment gateways (Razorpay and PayPal) generate a verified transaction receipt. We receive and store:

• Unique Transaction ID, Order ID, and Gateway Reference Number;
• Payment date, time, currency (e.g., INR or USD), and total amount paid;
• Payment status (e.g., Authorized, Captured, Refunded, or Failed);
• Enrolled course level and batch code.

2.6 Automatically Collected Technical & Device Information

When you browse our website, our servers automatically collect standard web telemetry: IP address, browser type and version, device hardware model, operating system, referrer URL, pages visited, time spent per page, and network diagnostic cookies.

How We Use Your Information (Purposes of Processing)

We process personal and academic information strictly for lawful, educational, and operational purposes:

We do not engage in automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects regarding students or their families.

Payment Gateways & Financial Data Security (Razorpay & PayPal)

Tamil Gurukulam is committed to upholding the highest standards of financial data protection for all online tuition fee payments. We partner exclusively with world-renowned, bank-grade payment processing gateways:

Our Financial Processing Commitments:

1. Zero Storage of Sensitive Card Credentials: Our web servers never store, log, capture, or transmit CVV numbers, PIN codes, full primary card account numbers (PAN), or online banking passwords.
2. Secure Server-to-Server Verification: Fee status verification between Tamil Gurukulam and payment gateways is authenticated via encrypted HMAC SHA256 webhook signatures and API secret keys.
3. Invoicing & Tax Compliance: Upon successful capture of payment, automated computer-generated invoices and fee receipts containing the payment reference are sent to the parent’s registered email address for personal accounting and record-keeping.
4. Refunds & Disputes: Any fee dispute, cancellation, or refund request is evaluated in accordance with our Course Fee Policy. Approved refunds are credited directly back to the original source payment instrument (card, UPI, or bank account) via the respective gateway.

Meta / Facebook Lead Ads & Instant Forms Disclosures

To introduce our classical Tamil language curriculum to Tamil diaspora families and parents around the globe, Tamil Gurukulam runs targeted educational advertisements on Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

5.1 Facebook Instant Forms & Lead Generation

When you click on one of our advertisements on Facebook or Instagram, you may choose to submit a native Meta Instant Form to register for a free orientation class or receive course brochures.

• Voluntary Submission: Submitting a Meta Instant Form is entirely voluntary. The form explicitly displays the information requested (such as your name, email, phone number, and child's age) along with a direct link to this Privacy Policy.
• Direct Transfer to Our Secure System: The data you provide in the Instant Form is securely transmitted from Meta to our database through encrypted API integrations.
• Purpose Limitation: We use the information provided through Meta Instant Forms solely to schedule your free orientation class, send meeting link reminders via WhatsApp/email, and answer questions regarding Tamil Gurukulam courses.
• No Reselling: We never sell, exchange, or share leads collected through Meta Instant Forms with third-party marketing firms, advertisers, or loan/insurance promoters.

5.2 Meta Pixel & Conversion Tracking

Our website integrates the official Meta Pixel (formerly Facebook Pixel). The Meta Pixel is a small piece of JavaScript code that helps us:

• Measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns by understanding the actions parents take on our website (such as visiting an orientation page or completing enrollment);
• Ensure that our advertisements are delivered only to parents who have a genuine interest in language education, Tamil heritage, and kids' learning;
• Create "Custom Audiences" and "Lookalike Audiences" to reach families who may benefit from our classes;
• Avoid Redundant Advertising: Suppress promotional ads so enrolled students and their parents are not repeatedly shown marketing promotions.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA & Minor Safety)

As an online academy primarily serving school-aged children (minimum student age 6 years up to teenagers), protecting children's privacy and online safety is our highest ethical and legal obligation.

6.1 Strict Requirement of Parental / Guardian Consent

In accordance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Indian Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act, 2023), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and global minor protection frameworks:

• No Direct Collection from Minors: We do not knowingly collect personal data directly from children under the age of 18 without verifiable parental consent.
• Registrations Must Be Made by Parents: All orientation bookings, course enrollment forms, fee payments, and profile creations must be completed by a parent or legal guardian of legal age.
• No Public Profiles: Student data is never made public, indexed on search engines, or displayed in open forums.

6.2 Parental Rights & Access Controls

Parents and legal guardians have the full legal right at any time to:

1. Review Child’s Profile: Inspect the personal information and learning progress records we maintain for their child;
2. Request Rectification: Request correction of any inaccurate or outdated information;
3. Refuse Further Collection: Refuse any further collection or processing of their child’s personal information;
4. Request Permanent Deletion: Direct us to permanently delete all personal data and portal accounts associated with their child.

To exercise any parental rights regarding your child's data, please email our Student Welfare & Privacy team at contact@tamilgurukulam.com from your registered parent email address. We will verify your identity and fulfill your request promptly.

Live Online Classrooms, Video Conferencing & Session Privacy

Our live interactive classes and orientation sessions are conducted via secure, enterprise-grade video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom Video Communications or Google Meet.

• Monitored Virtual Classrooms: Every class is strictly private, requiring a password-protected meeting ID and an active waiting room managed by verified Tamil Gurukulam teachers. Unverified third parties are never admitted.
• Student Privacy in Live Sessions: Student video feeds are visible only to the teacher and fellow enrolled classmates in that specific small batch (typically 6–10 students).
• Session Recording Protocols: Live classes may occasionally be recorded strictly for internal quality assurance, teacher training, or to provide revision playback to an enrolled student who missed a class. Recordings are hosted within a closed, access-controlled ecosystem.
• No Commercial Broadcast: We never broadcast, monetize, or publicly share student class recordings, voice recordings, or homework videos on social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) without prior, explicit written parental authorization.
• Classroom Decorum & Safety: In-class text chat is restricted to academic communication. Bullying, inappropriate language, or unauthorized recording by participants is strictly prohibited and results in immediate removal from the academy.

Communication Channels & WhatsApp Notifications

To keep parents informed about class schedules, homework assignments, student attendance, and payment confirmations, we utilize direct digital communication channels:

8.1 Transactional WhatsApp & SMS Messaging

By registering for an orientation session or enrolling a student with your mobile/WhatsApp number, you consent to receive essential transactional notifications, including:

• Orientation zoom joining links and timing reminders;
• Class batch schedules and teacher assignment details;
• Weekly homework sheets and digital learning worksheets;
• Fee payment invoices, receipts, and renewal reminders;
• Direct updates from your child's assigned Tamil tutor.

8.2 Opting Out of Promotional Messages

While essential operational communications (such as class links and payment receipts) are required to deliver the educational services you purchased, you may opt out of any non-essential promotional messages at any time by replying STOP on WhatsApp or clicking the "Unsubscribe" link included in our emails.

Cookies, Tracking Technologies & Web Analytics

A cookie is a small text file stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit websites. We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies: Essential for the operation of our website, allowing you to log into secure areas such as the Student Portal and Parent Portal (PCP), maintain user sessions, and navigate forms.
• Preference Cookies: Enable our website to remember your selections, such as language preference (English or Tamil) and country currency.
• Performance & Analytics Cookies: Allow us to recognize and count visitors, observe how visitors navigate through our site, and identify technical bottlenecks to optimize page loading speed.
• Marketing & Retargeting Pixels: We utilize the Meta Pixel to evaluate the effectiveness of our Facebook advertising campaigns.

You can manage or disable cookies at any time through your internet browser settings (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox). Please note that disabling essential cookies may impact your ability to log in to the student/parent portals.

Data Sharing, Third-Party Service Providers & Non-Sale Policy

We disclose personal information only to trusted service providers who assist us in operating our academy, under strict confidentiality and data protection agreements:

• Payment Processors: Razorpay and PayPal, strictly to authorize and settle student tuition payments.
• Virtual Classroom Providers: Zoom Video Communications and Google Meet, to deliver interactive live video classes.
• Communication Infrastructure: Official WhatsApp Business API providers, SMS gateways, and SMTP mail servers to transmit class alerts and fee receipts.
• Cloud Hosting & Infrastructure: Secure cloud web servers and databases that host our website and student portal with 24/7 security monitoring.
• Legal & Regulatory Authorities: We may disclose information if required to do so by applicable law, court order, governmental subpoena, or to protect the vital safety, rights, or property of our students, teachers, or the public.

Data Security & Technical Safeguards

We implement robust organizational, administrative, and technical safeguards designed to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure:

• Data in Transit Encryption: All web traffic between your browser and our servers is encrypted using industry-standard 256-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) / Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.2 / 1.3) cryptographic protocols.
• Password Protection: Passwords for the Parent Communication Portal (PCP) and Student Portal are hashed using one-way cryptographic algorithms with unique salts. No plain-text passwords are ever stored.
• Restricted Role-Based Access: Only authorized administrative coordinators and assigned teachers have access to student information, strictly on a need-to-know basis to fulfill their teaching responsibilities.
• Server Firewalls & Vulnerability Audits: Our server infrastructure utilizes web application firewalls, intrusion detection safeguards, and regular security patching.

International Data Transfers

Tamil Gurukulam operates globally, serving Tamil-speaking children and parents across India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE, and beyond.

Our primary educational operations, management team, and servers are located in India. When you submit information from outside India, your personal data will be transferred, processed, and stored in our secure servers in India. By using our website and enrolling in our courses, you consent to this international transfer. We take all necessary contractual and technical measures to ensure your data receives the same level of legal protection as required in your home jurisdiction.

Data Retention & Secure Purging

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the educational purposes for which it was collected:

• Enrolled Students: Academic records, batch attendance, course progression, and certificates are retained for the duration of the student’s enrollment plus an additional period to allow certificate verification and re-enrollment in higher levels (e.g. from Primary to Intermediate to Advance).
• Unenrolled Orientation Leads: Inquiries and lead records collected from Facebook Instant Forms or our website that do not proceed to enrollment are retained for a maximum of 180 days for follow-up, after which they are securely archived or purged.
• Financial & Invoicing Records: Fee transaction records, invoices, and payment receipts are retained for 7 to 8 years in strict accordance with Indian tax, GST, and accounting statutory mandates.

Your Legal Privacy Rights

Depending on your country or state of residence (including India under the DPDP Act, the European Union / UK under GDPR, or California under CCPA/CPRA), you and your child have the following legal rights regarding personal data:

• Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you or your child.
• Right to Rectification: You can request that inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date information be corrected immediately.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): You can request the deletion of your account and your child's data, subject to statutory retention requirements for financial records.
• Right to Restriction of Processing: You can request that we restrict the processing of your data under certain circumstances.
• Right to Data Portability: You can request your child's academic reports and enrollment history in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where our processing is based on your consent (e.g., orientation follow-ups or marketing emails), you may withdraw that consent at any time without penalty.

To exercise any of these rights, simply email our dedicated privacy officer at contact@tamilgurukulam.com with the subject line "Privacy Rights Request". We do not charge fees for standard privacy requests and respond within 30 calendar days.

Policy Updates & Revisions

We may periodically update this Privacy Policy to reflect enhancements in our educational offerings, technological updates, changes to payment gateway partnerships, or modifications in international data protection legislation.

When changes are published, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top and bottom of this page. For significant modifications that alter the way we process student personal data, we will provide prominent notice via an email to registered parents or a notification banner across the Student and Parent portals. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.

Grievance Redressal, Privacy Officer & Contact Information

If you have any questions, feedback, concerns, or grievances regarding this Privacy Policy, your child's data privacy, or our data handling practices, please contact our designated Data Protection & Grievance Redressal Officer:

Our Grievance Redressal team will acknowledge your inquiry within 48 hours and work diligently to address and resolve any privacy concern within a reasonable statutory timeframe.