Siddhartha Upper Primary School

Our school is right in the heart of Katuru. It’s an upper primary school, so we see kids of that middle age range, mostly coming in from the nearby houses and farms. The building isn't very big, just a few blocks of classrooms arranged around a central space. We have a lot of old trees on the property that provide good shade when the sun is out, which is most of the time here. The classrooms are simple, with big blackboards and wooden benches that have been around for quite a few years. You can see where the floor has been worn smooth by all the feet walking over it. We don't have a lot of fancy technology, but we have enough books to keep everyone busy. During the mid-day meal time, the school gets very quiet for a bit, then very loud as everyone finishes up and heads outside to play. The teachers here know every student's name and usually their parents' names too, since Katuru is that kind of small place. We have a small office for the paperwork, but most of the time it’s used for storing extra chalk and registers. It’s a very plain, honest place to be. We don't put on any shows; we just open up in the morning and do our best with the lessons until it’s time to go home. It’s a steady part of life for everyone here.