Saduthala Primary School: The Children’s Experience

A chorus of singing draws you into a large space with children, neem trees and a riot of colours. The morning assembly at Saduthala Primary School, tucked away in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, keeps children engaged through music, yoga, theatre and a reading of the daily news.

Saduthala Primary School falls under the Mission Schools of Excellence as part of the Gujarat Outcomes for Accelerated Learning (GOAL) programme supported by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. A driven headteacher, Patel Sailesh Bhai Raichand Bhai, with his cadre of enthusiastic teachers, the print rich environment, the attractive teaching and learning materials in the classrooms and most importantly, the joyful children, all make the school a perfect part of this programme.

Aditi is the head girl of the school. She used to study in a private school and moved here only when she was in the 5th grade. Her mother heard about how well the teachers engaged with children here and decided to shift Aditi here too. In three years, this school has become an integral and unforgettable part of her life.

Deeply focused on her academics and determined to become an IAS officer, Aditi is on a mission to gather as much knowledge as she can and learn from every person she encounters. She reads the newspapers every day and is always looking to connect with others. Most importantly, she feels constantly supported by her teachers and likes how they never hesitate to guide her and offer her practical solutions to her questions.

Aditi and head boy Teerth preside over the several student committees set up to ensure all children are equal partners in the upkeep and smooth running of the school. The committees include Water Supply, Midday Meal, Garden, Health, Prayer, Library, Picnic, and Sports and Games committees. They make sure regular meetings are held where all students have a chance to participate in the discussions and in the execution of projects. For Aditi and Teerth, overseeing all the committees and the different projects being carried out in their school fills them with pride.

For Aditi who aspires to join the IAS, for Teerth who sees himself enrolling in the Army, for Kaushangi who loves math and dreams of being a pilot one day, for Kishan who has a penchant for engaging in dialogues and who wants to become a lawyer, for Tamanna who is so taken by her English teacher that she wants to teach the subject someday, and for the many many other students who dream and dream big within these decorated walls, Saduthala Primary School is the perfect place to harbour and nourish those dreams.