‘The Learning Trap’ shows the dangers of a fractured education system and corporate teaching

It’s not every day that you read a book about an ed-tech company that’s as gripping as a Netflix documentary about an unhinged and corrupt cult. But Pradip K Saha’s The Learning Trap: How Byju’s Took Indian Edtech For a Ride juggles suspense and creativity to tell a shocking story of the corporate world. Saha recounts how Byju’s grew from a small coaching institution 15 years ago to reach its peak as India’s highest-valued ed-tech startup, and discusses the different reasons that led to its steep decline. The Learning Trap is a mix of an extended profile of the company’s founder, Byju Raveendran and investigative journalism. As a result, Saha can peel back the layers on the mindbogglingly obfuscated records of one of the country’s most visible businesses. Raveendran’s journey from teacher to ed-tech mogul and the rise and fall of Byju’s is a clear indicator of why the Indian education system has failed so spectacularly.

For the ‘average’ student

The foundation of Byju’s initial success, as Saha tells us, is that it responded to the needs of critically underserved students neglected by schooling systems. Saha chronicles the journey of Byju’s from its inception while comparing it to the fates of other ed-tech companies like Toppr and other...

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