Homegrown ed-tech firm Byju’s is facing pressure from many parents of young users, which is causing government agencies to step in. The National Commission for the Protection of Children’s Rights has now revealed that the company targeted first-generation students, pressuring parents to purchase courses and, in some instances, purchasing their phone numbers. The NCPCR has taken action and will present a report to the government, according to Priyank Kanoongo, the organization’s chair, who spoke to the news agency ANI. On December 23, the commission summoned Byju Raveendran, CEO of Byju, amid claims that he misled students and sold courses aggressively.
Speaking to the news agency, Kanoongo said, We came to know how Byju’s buying phone numbers of children and their parents, rigorously following them and threatening them that their future will be ruined. They’re targeting first-generation learners. We’ll initiate action and if need be will make a report and write to govt.
Video Courtesy: Republic World
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Byju’s was growing rapidly in India and offered a variety of courses to students in many regions of the nation. The business also increased its portfolio through a number of acquisitions. However, multiple outlets have recently interviewed some parents whose kids are taking classes from the platform. Additionally facing financial strain, the corporation recently let go 5% of its workers.
22 Byju’s clients, some of whom were from low-income houses, were interviewed by The Context (powered by Thomson Reuters Foundation), and it was discovered that these families had been aggressively recruited by salespeople, with some being pushed into paying for courses. Some families were also tricked into taking out loans and ultimately left out of pocket.
The report also indicated that Byju’s staff exploited parents’ desire to give their kids the finest education possible and infringed on their privacy by ambushing them in public, pressing them at home, or covertly gathering their data. Similarly, the Consumer Affairs (CA) department also voiced concerns about Byju’s practices in the market. Byju’s is yet to address allegations by the NCPCR.
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