.jpg)
Recently, a video of three former teachers from the edtech startup Physics Wallah went viral on social media. In the video, the teachers were seen crying over false allegations of bribery and internal politics. Addressing the management and students in the video, the teachers denied the allegations that they were paid Rs 5 crore as a bribe and said that they quit Physics Wallah because its atmosphere was no longer conducive to learning or teaching.
Tarun Kumar, Manish Dubey, and Sarvesh Dixit, who have reportedly resigned from the edtech startup over their differences with founder Alakh Pandey, claimed that Physics Wallah’s chemistry teacher Pankaj Sijairya falsely accused them of taking bribes from rival platform Adda247 to quit Physics Wallah.
After quitting the startup, the three professors launched their own YouTube channel named 'Sankalp.' Challenging Physics Wallah, the three teachers on their channel claimed that the organisation's main emphasis of providing good, affordable education eventually shifted after it became bigger. They further explained the reason behind leaving Physics Wallah. In the video shared on YouTube, they said that they were abiding by the vision of the edtech startup but situations changed and they felt that they were no longer aligned with the organisation.
They also claimed that Physics Wallah had been trying to strike their YouTube channel, despite the fact that they had completed the course before quitting the platform. The video received a lot of views, and some users claimed that it was a staged act and the teachers were doing it to gain popularity. Netizens also criticised the former teachers for speaking publicly about their grievances.
Physics Wallah was started by Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari in 2016. It is the only profitable edtech start-up in the country, having made a profit of Rs 98.2 crore in FY22. The startup prepares students for competitive engineering and medical entrance examinations. The application and website were reportedly created by the two co-founders in 2020.
The teachers' accusations have raised questions about the company's management and internal politics. While Physics Wallah has denied the allegations of bribery, it remains to be seen how the company will handle this situation.
The controversy surrounding the three teachers' resignation highlights the importance of a conducive atmosphere for learning and teaching. It is essential that educational institutions provide an environment that fosters creativity and learning, and where teachers feel supported and respected.
It is also important to note that the edtech industry in India has been booming in recent years, with more and more students opting for online education. While the growth of the industry is a positive development, it is crucial that companies in this space are transparent and accountable in their operations.
In conclusion, the recent controversy surrounding Physics Wallah and the resignation of three of its teachers has raised questions about the company's management and internal politics. The situation highlights the importance of a conducive atmosphere for learning and teaching, and the need for transparency and accountability in the edtech industry. It remains to be seen how the company will handle the situation, but it is clear that this incident has brought the issue of educational institutions' responsibility towards their teachers and students to the forefront.
