NEW DELHI: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today organised a strong protest against Unacademy’s Karol Bagh offline coaching centre in response to the alleged injustice faced by students enrolled there. More than 1,500 students associated with the offline centre are reportedly distressed due to the sudden closure of the centre and the non-refund of their fees. Despite the company’s decision to shut down the offline centre, students claim their deposited fees have not been refunded.
It is pertinent to note that Unacademy primarily functions as an online education platform, with one of its offline centres in Karol Bagh, New Delhi, where a significant number of students pursue their studies. However, the coaching management is reportedly in the process of abruptly closing the centre. When students approached the management to seek clarification, they were allegedly subjected to inhumane treatment. Reports have also surfaced that several students were confined within the premises. Disturbed by repeated incidents of mistreatment, students contacted ABVP, following which ABVP workers have been staging a protest alongside the students since 20 February.
Students participating in the protest stated that, when they were allegedly confined on the premises, they lodged a complaint with the police; however, they claim the police administration did not take appropriate action. According to the students, the coaching institute first removed faculty members in a planned manner and subsequently informed students that teachers had resigned, making it impossible to continue operating the centre. However, students assert that upon contacting the teachers, they learned that the faculty had been dismissed by the management. It is further alleged that students who enrolled during February, March, and April have been denied refunds, while only some students admitted after May have received partial payments.
One of the students, Parul, stated that the institute continued to register students and collect fees even after deciding to shut down the centre and is now refusing to return the amount. She alleged that the institute has deceived students by closing its offline centre and withholding their money. The protesting students have demanded that their fees be refunded at the earliest.
ABVP Delhi State Secretary, Sarthak Sharma, stated that Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has always stood firmly for student rights. He affirmed that ABVP workers will continue to stand with the students in their fight for justice against the alleged inhumane treatment. He further demanded that the coaching institute immediately address the students’ grievances and ensure prompt refunds of their fees.
