Children belonging to Gen Alpha in several states across India are raising their voices against the poor state of government schools. Their demands are very basic—adequate teachers, drinking water, toilets, electricity, laboratories, sports facilities and better roads. Social media has played an important role in carrying their voices from one place to another. Their protests are not about demanding political change; rather, they are about the right to better education and basic facilities. The growing wave of Gen Alpha protests sends a clear message to the government and administration that the new generation is no longer willing to silently accept the shortcomings of the education system.

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For the First Time in India: The Surge of Gen Alpha

Ranjan Srivastava

Across several states in the country, children from different schools have taken to the streets at almost the same time, demanding improvements in the education system.

Whether we call children born between 2010 and 2024–25 Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) or give them any other fancy label, these children—both boys and girls—have not merely expressed their anger by coming out on the streets in different parts of the country. They have also held up a mirror to the legislature, the government, the executive and even the media.

As the country was preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of its Independence, protests by schoolchildren were reported in states such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, where the condition of basic facilities in government schools remains a matter of concern.

A recent case is from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, which is also the home district of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

On August 14, students of Maharani Laxmibai Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Sarafa, reached the Collector's office to register their protest. They were angry over the district administration's decision to merge their school with the Sandipani School located at Daudkhedi, about 12 kilometres away.

Obviously, shifting the school so far away would directly affect the students' education. They would also have to face the daily inconvenience of travelling nearly 12 kilometres each way.

The students' anger grew to such an extent that they clearly demanded that the Collector come to them, listen to their concerns and resolve the problem.

Finally, on August 18, the Collector, the local MLA and the MP visited the girls' school. The students were assured that the school would not be shifted until an alternative arrangement was made.

This series of protests began last month in Barmer, Rajasthan. There, students of a government higher secondary school locked the school gates and began a sit-in protest.

Raising slogans against the government and administration, the students demanded that vacant posts for subject-specialist teachers in the school be filled.

In Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, students also staged a protest demanding basic facilities such as electric fans, drinking water, toilets, furniture and laboratories in their school.

In Gaya, Bihar, schoolchildren staged a similar protest over basic facilities.

In Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, students raised their voices against poor-quality food being served in the school mess and the lack of sports facilities.

In Palghar, Maharashtra, students protested over the absence of toilets and drinking-water facilities and the shortage of teachers.

Similar protests have been witnessed at several other places in these states as well.

In some places, children are demanding roads so that they can reach school during the rainy season. In others, they are making videos themselves showing the muddy, potholed roads leading to their schools.

In these videos, many children themselves become media reporters. With cameras in their hands, they show the condition of the roads, provide commentary and upload their videos on social media.

Their message is very clear: When no one is listening to us, we will become our own voice.

Whatever perspective one adopts in looking at these children's voices, their demands are straightforward and simple.

They are not demanding that the government be brought down, nor are they seeking the resignation of any minister or the removal of any official.

They simply want good education. They want teachers in their schools, drinking water, toilets, electricity, laboratories, sports facilities and roads to reach their schools.

In other words, they are demanding exactly those basic facilities for which the Central and state governments allocate thousands of crores of rupees every year in the name of education.

The question, therefore, is: Why, despite budgets being prepared and money being spent, does the condition of government schools in villages and small towns remain unchanged?

It can also be argued that the Gen Alpha protests have gained momentum following the movements of Generation Z (Gen Z), particularly the student protests at Jantar Mantar. Social media has acted as a catalyst in this process.

It is not as though children belonging to Gen Alpha in India had never protested for their demands before. The difference is that such protests generally remained confined to a particular school or locality.

The picture emerging today is different.

For the first time in India, within such a short period, Gen Alpha children are being seen taking to the streets simultaneously in several states and areas against the poor condition of schools. In some places, they are demanding teachers; in others, water and toilets; elsewhere, electricity and laboratories; in some places, better food; and in others, roads to reach school.

And the most important point is that this wave of protests has not yet subsided.

The fact that the voices coming from different states are remarkably similar cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence. Their demands are legitimate, and their method of raising them is also conveying a powerful message.

That message is directed at both the government and the administration.

Millions of children belonging to the present and future generations of the country are no longer willing to silently accept the shortcomings of the education system.

Gen Alpha may not yet be eligible to vote, but it has certainly learned to raise its voice.

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About the Author

Ranjan Srivastava is a senior journalist. After serving as a Bureau Chief and senior journalist with the English dailies Hindustan Times and Free Press Journal, Bhopal, as well as with other reputed newspapers, he is currently based in Bhopal and writes independently on contemporary issues and politics.

Contact: 94253-51688
Email: ranjansrivastava1@gmail.com