True freedom: Arvind Kejriwal is 'happy' Gen Alpha is fighting for school rights

On Independence Day, Arvind Kejriwal said Gen Alpha children are joining Gen Z in demanding better facilities in government schools. He said their protests reflect growing awareness of rights and the need to improve school infrastructure nationwide.Kejriwal said the growing participation of children in seeking better educational facilities reflected increasing awareness about their rights. (Credits: PTI)Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that after Generation Z (GenZ), children from Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) have begun raising their voices for better facilities in government schools, calling it a sign of "true freedom" on Independence Day.In a post on X, Kejriwal said children across the country were demanding basic infrastructure and better educational facilities in their schools, citing recent protests by students in Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, Dehradun in Uttarakhand and Barmer in Rajasthan."This August 15 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 learned to fight for their rights. That's what true freedom is," Kejriwal wrote while extending Independence Day greetings. (Credits: X/Arvind Kejriwal) The AAP chief said it was unfortunate that even after nearly eight decades of Independence, many government schools across the country continued to suffer from inadequate infrastructure, including dilapidated buildings, leaking roofs, a shortage of teachers, insufficient toilets and a lack of drinking water. According to Kejriwal, such conditions had long been accepted as normal, but children are now beginning to question the system and demand their rights.PUNJAB SCHOOLS DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANTLY: KEJRIWALHighlighting his party's governance record, Kejriwal claimed the AAP government in Punjab had significantly improved the condition of government schools, enabling students from these institutions to qualify for competitive examinations such as NEET and JEE and pursue careers as doctors and engineers. He said the growing participation of younger children in seeking better educational facilities reflected increasing awareness about their rights and underscored the need to improve government schools across the country.Kejriwal's remarks came on the occasion of India's 80th Independence Day, as debates over the quality of public education and school infrastructure continue in several states.WHO ARE GENZ AND GEN ALPHA?Generation Z refers to people born between 1997 and 2012, while Generation Alpha comprises those born between 2012 and 2024.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Aug 15, 2026 23:48 IST