A few days after the announcement of Board results, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his Deputy Manish Sisodia, met Government-run schools’ students and congratulated them for their outstanding performance.
Addressing students, Kejriwal said,"Each one of you have faced a difficult situation, be it health complications of a family member or financial shortcomings at home, but you did not give up. By sheer determination you achieved such a good result. The results are proof of your undeterred efforts and dedication towards studies."
He said, "You have to move forward and keep dreaming big, and if you keep working day and night, you will always be successful." “It is the taxpayers' money that is being utilized to fund government schools making education free and accessible to all students, so it is also the responsibility of the students to pay back to their nation when they grow up.”
"Everything is free in your school. How is it free? Where is the money coming from? Who is paying the government to sponsor education in government schools? It is the taxpayers' money that is being utilised. And who pays taxes? Everyone including even the poorest man of this nation pays tax. It is the money paid as a tax by a poor man through which you are receiving free and good quality education. So when you grow up, be what you have aspired to be but never forget what the nation has done for you. Be ready to give it back one day, in return for what this country has done for you," said Kejriwal while speaking to the students.
Kejriwal said, "A perception was created that a low-income family does not want their child to study. They want their children to work and earn money. But the reality was that the failure on the part of government in not ensuring quality education to kids made the low-income families think that sending kids to school would be a waste of time. Now that the government schools' condition has improved in Delhi, the poor man wants his child to study and make a bright future for himself. A common man now wants his child to go to school, study hard, and make a name for himself. Every father or mother is committed to seeing to it that their kids have access to good education. So many parents have started attending the parent-teacher meetings. It shows their dedication and commitment towards their kids' education. If the rich don't study, the parents have left money and savings for them, but if a poor man's kid doesn't study, where will he go?They have the only option to study hard and make a future for themselves."
Raghav, a student from Bihar and lived alone in Delhi before his mother came to support him.
He used to work in nearby factories in his spare time and also take tuitions for students in his neighborhood.
"I left my uncle's home in class 11 and started living independently; my teachers helped me a lot financially."
I failed in Class 11 and had given up on my studies. Through the constant support and encouragement of my principal and teachers, I have proved myself today in class 12 boards- Charu Yadav- R.P.V.V., Sector 11, Rohini.