Former teachers deny accepting Rs 5 crore bribe and accuse Physics Wallah of harassment, siting differences with founder as reason for resignation
A controversy has erupted around PhysicsWallah (PW), as some former teachers have been accused by the platform of accepting bribes of Rs 5 crores from rival edtech, Adda247, to leave their jobs.
The matter came to light after some of these teachers appeared in a video and cried while denying the allegations. They further claim that the accusations were baseless and falsely made by PW’s chemistry teacher Pankaj Sijairya.
In the video, the ex-teachers said they were asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by PW before leaving the institute. The agreement prohibited them from discussing their work experience or any other issue related to the institute. The educators claimed they refused to sign the NDA and, as a result, were denied their due payments.
The reason for the resignation was due to differences with the founder and the former teachers had decided to set up their own YouTube channel named ‘Sankalp’.
However, PW has denied the allegations and stated that it follows all ethical and legal practices. According to media reports, PW reiterated that the company adheres to ethical and legal standards while hiring and terminating employees. The signing of a non-disclosure agreement is completely voluntary and is a standard industry practice, particularly in the media industry.
The controversy has caused concern among students and parents who have been following PW’s YouTube channel for years. Founder, Alakh Pandey has a reputation for being a popular and respected educator, and the controversy has raised questions about the quality of education provided by the institute.
The allegations also highlight the need for clear guidelines and regulations for the fast-growing online education sector in India, which has been largely unregulated so far. The controversy may prompt policymakers to take a closer look at the sector and develop appropriate regulatory frameworks to protect the interests of students and educators alike.
