Tiny Tots Primary School

If you go to Bhatlem in Panjim, you will find us at Mumtaz Manzil, E/12. It’s a small primary school, mostly for the younger children who are just starting out with their books. Being in Goa, the air is usually quite humid, and we have the windows open to let the breeze in. The building is an old one, which gives it a bit of a homey feel. We don't have many rooms, so it feels quite cozy when all the classes are full. The kids are small, so there is always a lot of chatter and the sound of little feet running around. We spend our days teaching them the basics, like reading and writing. Parents drop them off in the morning and wait at the gate in the afternoon. It’s a very local atmosphere where everyone knows each other’s business. Sometimes the stray cats wander into the yard, and the children get distracted. The teachers are mostly women from the nearby neighborhoods who have been working with us for a long time. We don't have a big fancy office; it’s just a desk where we keep the registers and the fees records. It’s a simple setup that works for the families living here in Panjim. We just keep things moving along, one school day at a time, making sure the kids are safe and learning something. It’s a busy little place most mornings.