Markazul Hidaya High School

We are tucked away in Vellila, which is a quiet part of Malappuram. The school building sits amongst a lot of greenery, which is nice until the monsoon starts and everything gets a bit damp and muddy. Our days start pretty early when the yellow buses roll in through the narrow roads. The kids are usually running around the halls before the first bell, and it can get quite noisy. We have a lot of local families whose children come here, so everyone kind of knows each other. It’s not a big fancy institution, just a regular high school where we try to keep the classrooms tidy and the schedules on track. There is a lot of walking back and forth between the main office and the different blocks. Sometimes we have issues with the plumbing or a leaky roof when it pours, but that’s just part of being here. The playground gets a lot of use during the breaks, and the dust can get everywhere when it's dry. Most of the staff live nearby, so there’s a real local feel to the place. We spend plenty of time sitting in meetings or talking to parents who drop by without an appointment. It’s a simple life here in Vellila, focusing on the basics and making sure the kids have what they need for their lessons each day. It’s a lot of work but it's what we do. We don't try to be something we aren't.