Opal School

Station Road in Bijapur is always moving, and we are right in the thick of it. Being so close to the railway station means there’s a constant backdrop of whistles and the sound of trains coming and going. It’s a very urban setting for a school, so we don’t have huge open fields, but we make the most of the space we have. The school building has multiple floors, and the stairs are always full of kids running up and down between periods. In the mornings, the street outside is a bit of a mess with rickshaws and parents dropping off their children, but once the bell rings, things settle down inside. The classrooms are fairly standard with wooden benches that have had many names carved into them over the years. We keep the windows shut sometimes to keep the dust from the road out. It’s a practical place for families living in the heart of Bijapur. We have a small staff that works closely together, and we usually know every student by name. The office is right at the front, so we can see everyone who comes in and out. It’s a bit cramped at times, especially during parent-teacher meetings, but it has a friendly feel to it. We just keep our heads down and do the work, making sure the kids have what they need for their lessons each day.