More than half of Byju’s tuition centre customers seek refund in past two years: Report

livemint.com:

edtech startup. Between November 9, 2021, to July 11, 2023, a total of 43,625 refund requests were submitted to Byju’s Tuition Centers. Byju's reportedly processed 41,198 of these requests, accounting for approximately 95% of the total refund requests.

It’s important to note that Byju’s has sold nearly 75,000 Tuition Center subscriptions in total. Byju’s spokesperson refuted the reported numbers and labeled them as “wildly inaccurate." He, however, declined to provide actual numbers to rebut the accuracy of the data. The elevated rates of refund requests from students indicate that they are dissatisfied with the quality and structure of the courses provided at Byju’s Tuition Centers (BTC).

The Tuition Centers was initially considered a growth driver for the company’s future, but Byju’s has since taken a different approach by suspending its expansion plans. The company has chosen not to open any new tuition centers this year, a notable shift from its original target of leasing at least 300 additional centers. The Moneycontrol spoke with the parents of 15 students to gauge their sentiments, particularly in light of the recent criticisms surrounding Byju’s.

Except for the parents of two students, the rest extensively discussed various issues they’ve encountered. \These concerns encompass a range of topics, including inadequate installation of CCTV cameras, irregular class schedules, alleged manipulation of attendance records, and a perceived lack of communication about class cancellations and refund processes. The Moneycontrol gained access to a WhatsApp group consisting of 127 parents who have enrolled their children at Byju’s Tuition Center in Saraswati Nagar, Jodhpur.