Indian filmmaker Hansal Mehta and renowned storyteller Neelesh Mishra have taken to Twitter to express their concerns about the popular ed-tech platform Byju’s. Mehta shared a distressing personal encounter he had with Byju’s, reminding people of his previous criticism of the company and the subsequent trolling he faced on social media. Meanwhile, Mishra highlighted the negative impact of ed-tech giants like Byju’s on children’s education and called for government intervention.
Mehta’s tweet shed light on an alarming incident involving Byju’s employees attempting to scam him. He revealed that his daughter had been harassed by these employees who tried to sell unnecessary courses and demoralized her in order to secure a sale. Mehta had to intervene and drive them out of his house. He mentioned how he was subjected to online abuse and had to delete his previous tweets about the company due to the overwhelming trolling.
I’d called out Byjus when they came to my house trying to sell programs that my daughter did not need during the pandemic. They tried to convince her that she was poor academically in order to make an extra buck. I had to drive them out of my house. I was trolled for mocking the…
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) June 27, 2023
Expressing his agreement with Mehta’s concerns, Twitter user Ramnivas Kumar shared a similar experience of dealing with Byju’s aggressive marketing tactics. Kumar revealed that despite initially being convinced by the promises made by Byju’s representatives, he later realized that there were numerous free educational resources available online, making the paid courses unnecessary.
Similar thing happened with me – barring the tweet issue. Byju’s guys came, claimed big things, gave gadgets to kids, etc. After few days, it sucked and we withdrew. Knew that if my kids will be interested to learn about something then so many education apps, YouTube videos are…
— Ramnivas Kumar (@ramnivaskumar) June 28, 2023
Joining the conversation, Neelesh Mishra, known for his storytelling prowess, also criticized Byju’s and other popular ed-tech platforms like WhiteHat Jr. and Raveendran. Mishra shared a thought-provoking image on Twitter, depicting an artist’s interpretation of a conditioning machine. This was accompanied by a clear message about the detrimental effects of such ed-tech platforms on a child’s mind and the overall education system. Mishra demanded government intervention and urged action against these companies.
This is what Byju’s and WhiteHat Jr and Raveendran and Karan Bajaj have been doing to your children. They don’t care about your kids.
A master artiste expresses it far better than words could.
Conditioning Machine.
By Subodh Kerkar.
At the Museum Of Goa.@TheSlowMovement pic.twitter.com/g2otCeCMEN— Neelesh Misra (@neeleshmisra) June 23, 2023
Byju’s and CEO, Byju Raveendran, once hailed as a model for startup success, is currently facing a series of crises. The company is grappling with regulatory compliance issues, debt defaults, and the loss of key employees. Recently, three promoter-directors and an auditor resigned from their positions within the company, raising further concerns about its stability and credibility.
The ed-tech giant, which gained significant attention and funding during the COVID-19 pandemic for its online learning platform, is now embroiled in various challenges. Valuation markdowns, debt defaults, and the departure of important stakeholders have cast a shadow over the company’s reputation. The resignation of its auditors has also raised the possibility of a formal investigation by the Indian government.
As Byju’s attempts to navigate these crises and restore public trust, prominent figures like Hansal Mehta and Neelesh Mishra have highlighted the need for greater scrutiny and accountability within the ed-tech industry. Their voices contribute to the ongoing discussions about the ethical practices of these platforms and the potential impact on students and the education system as a whole.
