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Terms of Service

Last updated: 14 July 2026

Acceptance of terms

By creating an account, booking a session, or otherwise using STEM ADVANTAGE, you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, you must not use the platform.

These terms apply to all users, including students, tutors, and visitors browsing public pages.

Description of the service

STEM ADVANTAGE is a centralised online tutoring platform. The platform administrator manages subjects, hourly rates, and tutor assignments. Students browse subjects, select a tutor, book contiguous time blocks, and pay the platform directly to confirm sessions.

  • All prices are set per subject in South African Rand (ZAR) and do not vary by tutor.
  • Session times are displayed and stored in South Africa Standard Time (SAST, UTC+2).
  • Tutoring sessions are delivered online, typically via Google Meet links generated for confirmed bookings.
  • The platform is provided in English. Prices are charged in ZAR only, including for students based outside South Africa such as in Mozambique.

Accounts and eligibility

Students may register directly through the platform. Tutors are onboarded by the platform administrator via email invitation — tutors cannot self-register. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure and for all activity under your account.

You must provide accurate information when creating your account and keep your contact details up to date. You must be old enough to enter into a binding agreement under applicable law, or have consent from a parent or guardian where required.

Booking and sessions

To book a session, a student selects a subject, chooses from tutors assigned to that subject, and picks a start time and duration. The requested time block must be fully contiguous and fit within the tutor's available schedule without gaps or overlaps.

  • A time slot is only reserved after payment is confirmed — there is no pre-payment lock on availability.
  • If two students attempt to pay for the same slot, one payment will fail during final validation.
  • Special session requests (outside normal tutor availability) are charged only after the tutor accepts the request.
  • A session is marked as completed following manual confirmation by the tutor, or by an administrator override.

Payment policy

All session fees are quoted and charged in ZAR (formatted as R xxx.xx). Payment is processed through third-party gateways — primarily Paystack, with PayFast as an alternative when the primary gateway is unavailable or a previous attempt failed.

Payment confirmation and pricing

  • Your booking is confirmed only once payment is successfully processed.
  • The amount you pay is recorded as a snapshot at the time of payment. Future changes to a subject's hourly rate do not affect sessions already paid for.
  • For special session requests, payment is initiated only after the tutor accepts your request.

No cancellation or refunds

Confirmed payments are final. STEM ADVANTAGE does not offer self-service cancellation or refunds for booked sessions, regardless of whether you attend the session. Please review your selected subject, tutor, date, time, and duration carefully before completing payment.

In exceptional cases (for example a verified platform failure or duplicate charge), a refund may be considered only after manual review. Any approved refund is processed manually by the platform administrator — there is no automated refund. See our Refund Policy for details.

If a payment attempt fails (for example, because the time slot was taken by another student), no charge is made and you may select an alternative slot.

User responsibilities

You agree to use STEM ADVANTAGE lawfully and respectfully. Specifically, you must:

  • Provide accurate registration and booking information
  • Treat tutors, students, and platform staff with respect during sessions and in chat
  • Not share your account credentials with others
  • Not misuse chat, materials, or session links for purposes unrelated to your tutoring
  • Not attempt to circumvent payment, access controls, or platform security
  • Report concerns about tutor conduct through the platform's reporting feature

Tutor reports and account suspension

Students may submit reports about tutor conduct through the platform. Reports are reviewed by the platform administrator. Account suspension — for students or tutors — is a manual decision by the administrator and is not triggered automatically.

We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms, engage in abusive behaviour, or pose a risk to other users or the platform. Suspended users may lose access to upcoming sessions and platform features.

Intellectual property

Learning materials uploaded by tutors are provided for your personal use in connection with the relevant session. You may not copy, redistribute, or commercially exploit materials without the tutor's or platform's permission.

The STEM ADVANTAGE name, logo, and platform design are owned by the platform operator. You may not use our branding without prior written consent.

Limitation of liability

STEM ADVANTAGE is provided on an "as is" basis. We facilitate connections between students and tutors but do not guarantee specific academic outcomes. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform.

Our total liability for any claim related to the service is limited to the amount you paid for the specific session giving rise to the claim.

Changes to these terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of STEM ADVANTAGE after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Contact

For questions about these terms, please reach us through the contact page.