School students across multiple states have held protests in recent weeks, seeking better conditions — seemingly inspired by the Gen Z protests that challenged the Narendra Modi government.
Bengaluru, India — It was past time for class, but none of the 122 students at the government-run primary school in Samuhi Bhatpurwa village in India’s Uttar Pradesh were ready for lessons.
For once, they had something to teach the school authorities.
Dressed in their red-and-white checked uniforms, the students — some as young as six — refused to enter their classrooms until they received an assurance that the school would build the new building authorities had promised. Some, such as eight-year-old Priya*, held India’s national flag.
The current structure is old and dilapidated. A portion of the school lies in rubble — unrepaired — after a wall fell on a girl, severely injuring her in 2023.
Since then, the children have been asking for a new building for their safety. But no one listened to them until they launched their unlikely protest on August 22 , children no older than 10 challenging school and government authorities. As news spread that the youngsters were on strike, a senior education department official visited the school.
Block education officer Deepak Awasthi told the children that a new building would be constructed soon. That was when the pupils agreed to go back home as it was already close to evening.
