India’s Technology News: The India EdTech Consortium was formed on Wednesday by leading edtech businesses under the umbrella of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) (IEC).
Under the aegis of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), leading edtech companies announced the formation of the India EdTech Consortium on Wednesday, in response to the government’s ire over allegedly luring parents under the guise of offering free services and targeting vulnerable families (IEC).
In line with the government’s recent guidance, the IEC will guarantee that every student has access to high-quality, low-cost education that enhances their academic performance while also preparing them for the future.
IAMAI said in a statement that edtech companies have agreed to follow and adhere to a common ‘Code of Conduct,’ as well as establish a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism, to ensure that the industry’s positive impact reaches every deserving consumer while protecting their interests and promoting their rights.
Byju’s, Careers 360, Classplus, Doubtnut, Great Learning, Harappa, Times Edutech & Events Ltd, Scaler, Simplilearn, Toppr, Unacademy, upGrad, UNext Learning, Vedantu, and WhiteHat Jr are among the edtech platforms in the IEC.
“As more students, instructors, and stakeholders become a part of the online education ecosystem, the development of this self-regulatory organisation is a critical step toward safeguarding learners,” stated IAMAI President Subho Ray.
In a notification issued late last month, the Ministry of Human Resource Development stated that “some ed-tech companies are luring parents in the garb of offering free services and getting the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) mandate signed or activating the Auto-debit feature, especially targeting the vulnerable families,” and that “some ed-tech companies are luring parents in the garb of offering free services and getting the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) mandate signed or activating the Auto-debit feature, especially targeting
Many parents told the BBC that the ed-tech giant’s promised services, such as one-on-one tutoring and mentorship, never materialized.
“We are completely aligned with the government’s principles on safeguarding consumer interests,” said Divya Gokulnath, co-founder of Byju’s. “We welcome the creation of guidelines that help students reach their learning goals in a manner that makes them future ready and conceptually strong,” she added.
“While company development is important, so is consumer protection,” said Vamsi Krishna, Co-Founder and CEO of Vedantu. “This will empower students and parents to make better educated choices about the future.”
