公考机构，玩不起了

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges faced by Zhonggong Education, highlighting its declining revenue and increasing refund liabilities due to its "agreement class" model, which has led to significant financial strain and legal issues [2][4][9]. Group 1: Company Performance - Zhonggong Education's revenue has decreased from 6.9 billion in 2021 to 2.6 billion in 2024, with a cumulative loss of 3.68 billion over the past years [2][4]. - The company reported a cash balance of 177 million, while the pending refunds reached 482 million, indicating a severe liquidity crisis [4]. - The "agreement class" model, which once accounted for 75% of the company's revenue, now contributes to 82% of its legal disputes [4][9]. Group 2: Refund Issues - A recent incident highlighted the difficulties in refunding students, with one student facing a 17-year repayment plan for a failed exam [6][8]. - The refund process has become so problematic that it has attracted attention from scammers posing as customer service representatives [8]. - The overall refund rate reached 68.46% in 2021, with only 20%-30% of students passing the written exams, leading to increased financial liabilities for the company [12][16]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The competition in the civil service exam training market has intensified, with the number of applicants nearly doubling from 2021 to 2024, while the acceptance rate dropped from 1.6% to 1.3% [12][14]. - New entrants in the market have introduced aggressive refund policies, further complicating Zhonggong Education's position [22][23]. - The company has begun downsizing, reducing its workforce from 45,000 to 7,888 and cutting the number of direct branches from 1,669 to 681 [23]. Group 4: Strategic Shifts - Zhonggong Education is attempting to pivot towards employment services, claiming it will be a valuable market in the next decade [23][25]. - The company has also ventured into new business areas, including hardware and live streaming, although these efforts have yet to yield significant revenue [23][25]. - Despite these efforts, the revenue from new ventures remains below 3% of total income, indicating challenges in successfully diversifying its business model [25].