A school assembly is a gathering of all or part of a

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

for purposes, such as special programs or communicating information basis. In some schools, students gather to perform a common song or prayer, and to receive common announcements. A routine

attendance Attendance is the concept of people, individually or as a group, appearing at a location for a previously scheduled event. Measuring attendance is a significant concern for many organizations, which can use such information to gauge the effectiven ...

check may be done in such gatherings. At some schools, these meetings may be substituted by smaller classroom assemblies and announcements broadcast over a

public address system A public address system (or PA system) is an electronic system comprising microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, and related equipment. It increases the apparent volume (loudness) of a human voice, musical instrument, or other acoustic sound sou ...

. Periodic school assemblies can be a forum for special presenters of educational, health, or safety materials, or for school plays, talent shows, etc.

History

Assemblies have been around since antiquity. In ancient

gurukula A or ( sa, गुरुकुल, gurukul) is a type of education system in ancient India with ('students' or 'disciples') living near or with the guru, in the same house. The guru-shishya tradition is a sacred one in Hinduism and possibly ap ...

, students would gather, meditate and discuss their daily routine in the assemblies. An act of collective gathering and worship is a part of the assembly in England and is a legal requirement in schools.

Elements

A school assembly may include prayer, news headline, speakers, discussions among students, student talk, rewarding or praising a student(s) and other important discussions.

Countries

China

Due to the number of students in a typical Chinese school, assemblies are typically held outdoors. It is common for the head of school to address the student body for nearly an hour at the beginning of a school week or month.

Malaysia

School assemblies are usually held in school halls or in outdoor areas such as the school sports complex or basketball courts. School assemblies are held weekly, usually on Mondays. Students sing the national, state, and school anthems while raising the national flag. They recite the

Rukun Negara The ''Rukun Negara'' (also spelled ''Rukunegara''; Malay for "National Principles") is the Malaysian declaration of national philosophy instituted by royal proclamation on Merdeka Day, 1970, in reaction to a serious race riot known as the 13 ...

and hear reports, speeches and announcements from the principal, teachers, and prefects. Assemblies usually last for an hour. Schools also have smaller assemblies every other day where students gather before the start of their first class or when the first bell rings. Teachers and students often make quick and simple announcements for 15 minutes before sending the students to their classrooms. Schools in Malaysia use the homeroom system. This daily gathering prevents students from playing truant as class monitors take attendance when the students are in the hall, loitering before class starts. This makes it easier to catch and punish those who are tardy.

Pakistan

Assemblies are usually held outdoors for 20 minutes at least every day. Teachers and students recite a common prayer. Special announcements are made and students present thoughts of the day and attendance is marked. Sometimes students present a skit or a cultural programme.

History

Elements

Countries

China

Malaysia

Pakistan

Ireland

See also

References

External links