Video: Gen Alpha students hit Lucknow streets, protest against teacher shortage

The students, who identified themselves as pupils of Jai Narayan School, said the lack of teachers had affected classroom teaching and academic activities for a considerable period.Hundreds of school students hit the streets in Lucknow to protest teacher shortage. (Screengrab)Hundreds of school students in Lucknow took to the streets on Thursday, alleging that a severe shortage of teachers had disrupted their studies and regular classes. The protest near Buddheshwar Crossing in the Para police station area briefly affected traffic and drew the attention of local residents and officials.A video from the spot shows a large number of students in school uniforms gathered across a busy road, with many sitting on the carriageway while others stood in groups raising slogans.Several commuters, pedestrians and local residents were seen watching the protest from the roadside as traffic slowed down around the crossing.The students, who identified themselves as pupils of Jai Narayan School, said the lack of teachers had affected classroom teaching and academic activities for a considerable period. They claimed that important subjects were not being taught regularly and that the situation had begun to affect their preparation for examinations.As the protest intensified, Social Welfare Minister Asim Arun, who was travelling through the area on his way to Kannauj, stopped at the crossing and spoke to the students. According to eyewitnesses, he listened to their grievances, appealed for calm and later escorted the students back into the school premises after assuring them that their concerns would be conveyed to the education authorities.GEN ALPHA PROTESTS IN JHARKHANDThe agitation in Lucknow comes amid a series of student protests reported from other states over teacher-related issues.In Jharkhand’s Garhwa district, students have been protesting against the transfer of a teacher, while in Rajasthan’s Alwar district students and villagers recently locked a government school over vacant teacher posts and the poor condition of school buildings.Education officials in Rajasthan later held discussions with protesters and temporarily posted additional teachers, though the agitation continued.The developments in Lucknow have once again brought the issue of teacher availability in government schools into focus. Students are now awaiting a response from the education department, while officials are expected to review staffing arrangements and consider measures to restore normal academic functioning at the school.- EndsPublished On: Aug 14, 2026 13:14 IST