Unacademy, an Indian edtech company, has sacked a tutor, Karan Sangwan, for making a remark in his lecture asking students to vote for educated candidates. The company said that the classroom is not a place to share personal opinions and views.
We are an education platform that is deeply committed to imparting quality education. To do this we have in place a strict Code of Conduct for all our educators with the intention of ensuring that our learners have access to unbiased knowledge.
— Roman Saini (@RomanSaini) August 17, 2023
Our learners are at the centre of…
Sangwan made the remark during a lecture on the Indian Constitution. He said that the Constitution was made by educated people and that it is important to vote for educated candidates so that they can make informed decisions.
Unacademy's decision to sack Sangwan has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have supported the company's decision, saying that it is important to maintain neutrality in the classroom. Some people also blamed Sangwan for spreading political propaganda in classroom using digital platforms.
This teacher from @unacademy is frustrated because he has to do the job he is getting paid for. Therefore, he is asking people not to vote for the government that brings new changes i.e. BJP
— BALA (@erbmjha) August 13, 2023
Your entite paycheck depends on teaching and you have a problem with making notes? 🤡… pic.twitter.com/WMQT6EaOXD
Others have criticized the decision, saying that Sangwan was simply expressing his opinion and that he should not have been sacked for that.
In a video clip that went viral, Karan Sangwan is seen discussing the recent bills moved by the government to overhaul the criminal justice system in the country. “Don't forget, when you vote next time, vote for someone who is well-educated, so you don't have to go through this (ordeal) again. Elect someone who is educated and understands things. Don't elect someone who only knows changing names. Decide properly,” Sangwan urges his students in the video.
The controversy has highlighted the debate about the role of teachers in the classroom. Some people believe that teachers should be allowed to share their personal opinions with students, while others believe that they should remain neutral. However, it should be necessary for teachers to keep politics out from their classes, which Sangwan didnt followed and it resulted in getting scaked by Unacademy.
It is important to note that Unacademy is a private company and is free to set its own policies. The company has said that it believes that the classroom is a place for learning and that it is important to avoid distractions.
Now, Karan Sangwan blames Political Pressure for getting scacked
Sangwan has claimed that he might have been removed by the online tutoring platform due to "political pressure". Sangwan, who landed in controversy after a video clip of his remarks went viral on social media, also said he stands by his remarks where he asked his students to vote for well-educated leaders.
Speaking to India Today, Sangwan said he tried speaking to the top management of Unacademy but they said we cannot do anything. "I have been with Unacademy since 2021. My profile has been deleted. There may be political pressure," he said.
The decision to sack Sangwan is a reminder that teachers should be mindful of what they say in the classroom. They should avoid making any remarks that could be seen as political or controversial.