A small Tamil school in Hulu Selangor maintains traditions with five students

Annam Sannasy, the headmaster of a Tamil school in Hulu Selangor, Malaysia, manages a school that currently serves only five students.

The school was established in 1938 and originally operated out of an old wooden village house. While the student population peaked at approximately 400 in 1972, the numbers have declined as many Indian residents moved away from the estate area to Negeri Sembilan. The school staff consists of about 15 people, including six teachers and several support staff.

Teachers like Eganash Arijenan provide personalized attention to the children, who are currently enrolled in Year 2, Year 5, and Year 6. Because the school lacks a canteen, teachers provide meals for the students daily. The staff also assists children with transportation issues and travels several hours to take students to various events. The school remains open because it serves as a center for preserving cultural traditions like Deepavali.

The school hosts students from nearby areas, including Malay students, to celebrate the festival together. This includes activities like creating kolam, decorating the grounds, and performing prayers. The school provides laptops and modern equipment like smart TVs and microscopes to the students, who have won medals in STEM competitions.