Govt schools can be good, it's about 'neeyat': Kejriwal on Punjab

Arvind Kejriwal lauded Punjab's school infrastructure, sharing a video of a new library to say good govt schools are about 'neeyat'. Simultaneously, ETT teachers protested in Chandigarh alleging recruitment scams and demanding justice.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday praised the educational infrastructure transformation underway in Punjab, asserting that state-run schools can be good and that "it is all about 'neeyat' (intent)."

Taking to social media platform X, Kejriwal shared a video of a newly furnished library at a government school in Punjab's Mansa district to counter claims that state-run educational institutions cannot match private standards. "This is a library at a government school in Punjab. The next time someone tells you that government schools can't be good, show them this video. It is all about 'neeyat'," Kejriwal wrote, reposting a video originally shared by Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.

This is a library at a government school in Punjab. The next time someone tells you that government schools can’t be good, show them this video. It is all about "neeyat". https://t.co/LLagBLQFUx — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 22, 2026

Earlier, Bains had shared visuals of the modern facility at Government Senior Secondary School in Bhaini Bhagha on X, stating, "Delighted to share the newly furnished library at Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Bhaini Bhagha (Mansa) -- a bright, well-equipped space where students can now read, learn and dream bigger."

ETT Teachers Protest Over Recruitment Irregularities

Meanwhile, over 180 Elementary Teacher Training (ETT) teachers, accompanied by their family members, staged a protest sit-in outside the residence of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema in Chandigarh on Saturday. The demonstration was organised to protest alleged large-scale irregularities and high-handedness of department clerks during the recruitment process of the 180 ETT teachers.

Speaking to ANI, one protester declared that they are demanding the suspension of the Education Department clerk for allegedly orchestrating a scam against them to accommodate his own people. "We are demanding the suspension of the Education Department clerk who orchestrated such a massive scam to accommodate his own people. We are fighting for our rights. The Education Minister and the Finance Minister claim they lack the authority to suspend the clerk and promise to arrange a meeting with the CM, yet nothing has happened to date. They are merely making excuses... We have been seeking justice for 10 years..." said a protester.

Another protester alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government worked in collusion with a departmental clerk to shield the department clerk. Citing an IAS report, the protester added that the issue arose due to the clerk's error, expressing disappointment that they have received no justice despite multiple meetings over the past week. "We were originally recruited in 2016 but were subsequently dismissed on the grounds that there were flaws in the recruitment process. Later, we were reinstated following a court order. However, the Aam Aadmi Party government--in collusion with a departmental clerk--shielded that clerk while reinstating us. Now, an IAS report has stated that the issue arose due to the clerk's error and that we, the 180 ETT teachers, were not at fault; yet, despite multiple meetings over the past week, we have received no justice... We came to Chandigarh seeking justice, but our teachers are being subjected to assault and violence..." another protester told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Police subsequently intervened and removed the protesters from the vicinity of the finance minister's residence. (ANI)

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