Government School Haidripura

Our school is located on the Main Road in Nandambakam, Chennai. Being right on the main road means we are very easy to find, but it also means there is a constant hum of traffic from motorcycles and buses passing by. The gate stays closed during school hours to keep the noise and dust out as much as possible. Inside, the building is laid out around a small open space where the children have their morning assembly. The classrooms are a bit tight, and we have to be careful with how we arrange the furniture. We have a few cupboards filled with old maps and chart papers that have been used for years. The teachers' desks are usually covered in red pens and half-eaten snacks. It gets very hot in the afternoons, and the fans struggle to keep the air moving in the corners of the rooms. Most of the kids here come from the surrounding streets of Nandambakam. They walk or come on their parents' cycles. There isn't a big playground for sports, so the kids just play in the small paved area during their break. We have a small bell that we ring by hand to signal the end of each period. By four o'clock, the building clears out quickly as everyone heads home to beat the evening traffic rush on the main road.