New Delhi, Aug 15 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, on Saturday said the younger generation was increasingly raising its voice over the condition of government schools, calling the demand for basic facilities such as desks, clean drinking water, toilets and teachers a reflection of “true freedom” on Independence Day.
In an Independence Day post on X, Kejriwal said this year’s August 15 was “even more special” as children across the country were coming forward to demand better facilities in their schools.
“This August 15th is even more special. After Gen Z, now Gen Alpha has taken up the charge. Children across every corner of the country are fighting to get their schools fixed. They are demanding basic facilities for their schools like desks, clean water, toilets, and teachers. Our children have learnt to fight for their rights. That’s what true freedom is… Heartfelt Independence Day wishes to all of you.”
In a video message, Kejriwal elaborated on his remarks and cited examples of schoolchildren raising their voices over basic infrastructure and the availability of teachers.
“After Gen Z, now Gen Alpha has started raising its voice. News is coming from all over the country that small children are struggling to fix their schools. In Hamirpur, children have started protesting to build the road in front of their school.”
He also referred to protests by students in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan over school facilities and teachers.
“In Dehradun, children are fighting for their rights. In Barmer, children are saying, give us teachers. There are no teachers there.”
Kejriwal described the fact that children were demanding teachers and basic facilities as a positive development, while questioning the condition of government schools several decades after Independence.
“They are struggling for teachers. This is a very good thing. After 75-80 years of Independence, our government schools are in such a bad condition.”
He said children from economically weaker families often depend on government schools and alleged that many such institutions continue to face serious infrastructure problems.
“Children of poor people go to government schools because they don’t have money. Government schools are broken, walls are broken, roofs are falling. When it rains, water fills the classroom.”
Kejriwal further highlighted the lack of basic amenities and teachers in some government schools.
“There are no toilets, there is no drinking water. There are no teachers, there is no education. Children have no future.”
He said society had become accustomed to accepting poor conditions in government schools and urged people to speak up to bring about change.
“And we have accepted that government schools are like this. They are not like this. If we don’t raise our voice, how will things change?”
Kejriwal then cited the AAP Punjab as examples of what he described as efforts to improve government schools.
“When Aam Aadmi Party was the government in Delhi, we made government schools great in Delhi. Our government is in Punjab now. We have made schools great in Punjab.”
He urged people to visit government schools in both states and pointed to students pursuing competitive examinations and professional careers.
“You go and see the government schools of Punjab and Delhi. The children there are now giving NEET, JEE, becoming engineers, becoming doctors. We will all have to raise our voices together. We will have to struggle. Only then will the system change. Happy Independence Day to all of you.”
–IANS
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