Unacademy, the edtech firm, has terminated the services of teacher Karan Sangwan, who encouraged his students to vote for educated candidates, citing that classrooms are not appropriate platforms for personal opinions and views. The decision has sparked discussions about freedom of expression and the role of educators in shaping public discourse.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal weighed in on the issue, questioning whether advocating for educated individuals as candidates is a crime. Kejriwal’s statement underscores the broader debate surrounding the qualifications and skills of public representatives in the modern era.
Roman Saini, co-founder of Unacademy, clarified the rationale behind the decision, stating that Sangwan’s actions constituted a breach of contract. Saini emphasized the platform’s commitment to providing quality education and maintaining an unbiased learning environment. The Code of Conduct in place for educators ensures that learners receive information devoid of personal biases.
In a post on X, Saini stated, “The classroom is not a place to share personal opinions and views as they can wrongly influence them. In the current situation, we were forced to part ways with Karan Sangwan as he was in breach of the Code of Conduct.”
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.
Our learners are at the centre of…
— Roman Saini (@RomanSaini) August 17, 2023
Karan Sangwan, in response to the dismissal, announced that he had launched his own YouTube channel and would address the controversy on August 19. In a video that garnered attention, Sangwan urged his students to vote for educated candidates in future elections, sparking a debate about the role of teachers in advocating certain political viewpoints.
Delving into the issue, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal underscored the importance of having educated representatives in the political sphere. He stated, “Illiterate public representatives can never build the modern India of 21st century.”
The dismissal of Karan Sangwan by Unacademy has sparked a wider discussion about the boundaries of expression for educators and the role of technology platforms in shaping political narratives. As the debate continues, stakeholders are considering the implications of such actions on the education ecosystem.
Y Sathish Reddy, Chairman of Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation, expressed his concerns regarding the situation, asserting that suspending a teacher who advocated against voting for illiterate candidates is inappropriate. Reddy called for an explanation from Unacademy.
Haseena Ayoob is a regular contributor of The Chenab Times.