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{{short description|Institution for the education of students by teachers}}
{{other uses}}
{{redirect|Schooling|the surname|Schooling (surname)}}
{{pp-semi-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

[[File:First primary school building in Nigeria in Badagry, Nigeria.jpg|alt=|thumb|upright=1.5|First [[primary school]] in [[Nigeria]], built in 1845<ref>{{Cite book|title=Research Handbook on Innovation Governance for Emerging Economies: Towards Better Models |last1=Kuhlmann |first1=Stefan|isbn=978-1-78347-191-1|location=Cheltehnham, UK|oclc=971520924|date = 27 January 2017 |publisher=Edward Elgar }}</ref> ]]
[[File:1st High school of Argos, Greece.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[high school]] building in [[Argos, Greece]]]]
A '''school''' is the [[educational institution]] (and, in the case of in-person learning, the [[Educational architecture|building]]) designed to provide [[learning environment]]s for the [[teaching]] of [[student]]s, usually under the direction of [[teacher]]s. Most countries have systems of formal [[education]], which is sometimes [[compulsory education|compulsory]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://ourworldindata.org/primary-and-secondary-education|title=Primary and Secondary Education|last1=Roser|first1=Max|last2=Ortiz-Ospina|first2=Esteban|date=2019|journal=[[Our World in Data]]|access-date=24 October 2019|archive-date=18 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518145614/https://ourworldindata.org/primary-and-secondary-education|url-status=live}}</ref> In these systems, students progress through a series of schools that can be built and operated by both government and private organization. The names for these schools vary by country (discussed in the ''[[School#Regional terms|Regional terms]]'' section below) but generally include [[primary school]] for young children and [[secondary school]] for teenagers who have completed [[primary education]]. An institution where [[higher education]] is taught is commonly called a [[university college]] or [[university]].

In addition to these core schools, students in a given country may also attend schools before and after primary (elementary in the U.S.) and secondary (middle school in the U.S.) education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Understanding the American Education System |url=https://www.studyusa.com/en/a/58/understanding-the-american-education-system |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=www.studyusa.com |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109095023/https://www.studyusa.com/en/a/58/understanding-the-american-education-system |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Kindergarten]] or [[preschool]] provide some schooling to very young children (typically ages 3–5). University, [[vocational school]], [[college]], or [[seminary]] may be available after secondary school. A school may be dedicated to one particular field, such as a school of economics or dance. [[Alternative school]]s may provide nontraditional curriculum and methods.

Non-government schools, also known as [[private schools]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indoamericanpublicschool.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225223702/https://www.indoamericanpublicschool.com/ | archive-date=25 February 2019 | title=Indo American Public School (IAPS) &#124; Best School in Udaipur }}</ref> may be required when the government does not supply adequate or specific educational needs. Other private schools can also be religious, such as [[Christian school]]s, [[gurukula]] (Hindu schools), [[madrasa]] (Arabic schools), [[hawza]]s (Shi'i Muslim schools), [[yeshiva]]s (Jewish schools), and others; or schools that have a higher standard of education or seek to foster other personal achievements. Schools for adults include institutions of [[corporate training]], [[military education and training]], and [[business school]]s.

[[Criticism of schooling|Critics of school]] often accuse the school system of failing to adequately prepare students for their future lives,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-12|title=Schools don't prepare children for life. Here's the education they really need {{!}} Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/12/schools-children-education-coding-toilet-unblocking-rote-learning|access-date=2021-08-04|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804172805/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/12/schools-children-education-coding-toilet-unblocking-rote-learning|url-status=live}}</ref> of encouraging certain temperaments while inhibiting others,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Keogh|first=Barbara|date=2009-09-09|title=Why it's important to understand your child's temperament|url=https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/temperament-in-the-classroom-helping-each-child-find-a-good-fit/|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.greatschools.org|language=en-US|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804171157/https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/temperament-in-the-classroom-helping-each-child-find-a-good-fit/|url-status=live}}</ref> of prescribing students exactly what to do, how, when, where and with whom, which would suppress [[creativity]],<ref>{{Citation|last=Robinson|first=Sir Ken|title=Do schools kill creativity?|date=27 June 2006|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity|language=en|access-date=2021-08-04|archive-date=15 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915120806/http://www.ted.com//talks//ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and of using [[extrinsic]] measures such as [[Grading in education|grades]] and [[homework]], which would inhibit children's natural [[curiosity]] and desire to learn.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-28|title='Schools are killing curiosity': why we need to stop telling children to shut up and learn|url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jan/28/schools-killing-curiosity-learn|access-date=2021-08-04|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804181527/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jan/28/schools-killing-curiosity-learn|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[homeschooling]] and [[distance education]], teaching and learning take place independent from the institution of school or in a [[virtual school]] outside a traditional school building, respectively. Schools are organized in several different [[school organizational models|organizational models]], including departmental, small learning communities, academies, integrated, and schools-within-a-school.

==Etymology==
The word ''school'' derives from [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|σχολή}} ''({{lang|grc-Latn|scholē}}''), originally meaning "leisure" and also "that in which leisure is employed", but later "a group to whom lectures were given, school".<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=school Online Etymology Dictionary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201150700/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=school |date=1 February 2009 }}; [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%23101960 H.G. Liddell & R. Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201150111/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%23101960 |date=1 February 2009 }}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120712131449/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/school?q=school School], on Oxford Dictionaries</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dsxolh%2F σχολή] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225144050/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=sxolh/ |date=25 February 2021 }}, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref>

==History and development==
{{See also|History of education}}
[[File:Plato's Academy mosaic from Pompeii.jpg|thumb|[[Plato]]'s academy, [[Plato's Academy mosaic|mosaic from Pompeii]]]]
The concept of grouping students together in a centralized location for learning has existed since [[Classical antiquity]]. Formal schools have existed at least since [[ancient Greece]] (see [[Academy]]), [[ancient Rome]] (see [[Education in Ancient Rome]]) [[History of India|ancient India]] (see [[Gurukul]]), and [[History of China|ancient China]] (see [[History of education in China]]). The [[Byzantine Empire]] had an established schooling system beginning at the primary level. According to ''Traditions and Encounters'', the founding of the primary education system began in 425 AD and "...&nbsp;[[Soldier|military personnel]] usually had at least a primary education&nbsp;...". The sometimes efficient and often large government of the Empire meant that educated citizens were a must. Although Byzantium lost much of the grandeur of Roman culture and extravagance in the process of surviving, the Empire emphasized efficiency in its war manuals. The Byzantine education system continued until the empire's collapse in 1453 AD.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bentley |first=Jerry H. |title=Traditions & Encounters a Global Perspective on the Past |location=New York |publisher=McGraw-Hill |year=2006 |page=331}}</ref>

In Western Europe, a considerable number of [[cathedral schools]] were founded during the [[Early Middle Ages]] in order to teach future clergy and administrators, with the oldest still existing, and continuously operated, cathedral schools being [[The King's School, Canterbury]] (established 597 CE), [[King's School, Rochester]] (established 604 CE), [[St Peter's School, York]] (established 627 CE) and [[Thetford Grammar School]] (established 631 CE). Beginning in the 5th century CE, [[monastic school]]s were also established throughout Western Europe, teaching religious and secular subjects.[[File:BogdanovBelsky UstnySchet.jpg|thumb|upright|Mental calculations. In the school of S. Rachinsky by [[Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky]]. Russia, 1895.|left|239x239px]]

In Europe, universities emerged during the 12th century; here, [[scholasticism]] was an important tool, and the academicians were called ''schoolmen''. During the [[Middle Ages]] and much of the [[Early Modern]] period, the main purpose of schools (as opposed to universities) was to teach the [[Latin|Latin language]]. This led to the term [[grammar school]], which in the United States informally refers to a primary school, but in the United Kingdom means a school that selects entrants based on ability or aptitude. The school curriculum has gradually broadened to include literacy in the vernacular language and technical, artistic, scientific, and practical subjects.

Obligatory school attendance became common in parts of Europe during the 18th century. In [[Denmark-Norway]], this was introduced as early as in 1739–1741, the primary end being to increase the literacy of the ''[[:no:almue|almue]]'', i.e., the "regular people".<ref>{{cite web |title=Leseferdighet og skolevesen 1740–1830 |url=https://oda.hio.no/jspui/bitstream/10642/888/2/802941.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414015817/https://oda.hio.no/jspui/bitstream/10642/888/2/802941.pdf |archive-date=14 April 2016 |access-date=15 May 2014 |publisher=Open Digital Archive}}</ref> Many of the earlier public schools in the United States and elsewhere were [[one-room school]]s where a single teacher taught seven grades of boys and girls in the same classroom. Beginning in the 1920s, one-room schools were consolidated into multiple classroom facilities with transportation increasingly provided by [[kid hack]]s and [[school bus]]es.

[[Islam]] was another culture that developed a school system in the modern sense of the word. Emphasis was put on knowledge, which required a systematic way of teaching and spreading knowledge and purpose-built structures. At first, [[mosque]]s combined religious performance and learning activities. However, by the 9th century, the [[madrassa]] was introduced, a school that was built independently from the mosque, such as [[University of Al Quaraouiyine|al-Qarawiyyin]], founded in 859 CE. They were also the first to make the ''Madrassa'' system a public domain under [[Caliph]]'s control.

Under the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]], the towns of [[Bursa]] and [[Edirne]] became the main centers of learning. The Ottoman system of [[Külliye]], a building complex containing a mosque, a hospital, madrassa, and public kitchen and dining areas, revolutionized the education system, making learning accessible to a broader public through its free meals, health care, and sometimes free accommodation.

==Regional terms==
The term "''school"'' varies by country, as do the names of the various levels of education within the country.

===United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations===
In the United Kingdom, the term ''school'' refers primarily to pre-[[university]] institutions, and these can, for the most part, be divided into [[pre-school]]s or [[nursery school]]s, [[primary school]]s (sometimes further divided into [[infant school]] and [[junior school]]), and [[secondary school]]s. Various types of secondary schools in England and Wales include [[grammar school]]s, [[comprehensive school|comprehensives]], [[secondary modern]]s, and [[Academy (England)|city academies]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Types of school |url=https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school |website=GOV.UK |access-date=14 June 2023 |language=en |archive-date=25 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325212300/https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school |url-status=live }}</ref> While they may have different names in Scotland, there is only one type of secondary school. However, they may be funded either by the state or independently funded. Scotland's school performance is monitored by [[Education Scotland]]. [[Ofsted]] reports on performance in England and [[Estyn]] reports on performance in Wales.

In the United Kingdom, most schools are publicly funded and known as [[state schools]] or maintained schools in which tuition is provided for free.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is the Difference Between State Schools & Private Schools? |url=https://www.britishcouncil.hk/en/stateschools_priavteschools#:~:text=Whilst%20independent%20schools%20are%20overseen,provide%20education%20free%20of%20charge. |website=British Council Hong Kong |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620143705/https://www.britishcouncil.hk/en/stateschools_priavteschools#:~:text=Whilst%20independent%20schools%20are%20overseen,provide%20education%20free%20of%20charge. |url-status=live }}</ref> There are also private schools or [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private schools]] that charge fees. Some of the most selective and expensive private schools are known as [[Public school (UK)|public schools]], a usage that can be confusing to speakers of [[North American English]]. In North American usage, a [[public school (government funded)|public school]] is publicly funded or run.

In much of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], including Australia, New Zealand, India, [[Pakistan]], Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania, the term ''school'' refers primarily to pre-university institutions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Education |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/education |website=Commonwealth |access-date=14 June 2023 |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428124533/https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/education |url-status=live }}</ref>

===India===
[[File:Loyola School.jpg|thumb|[[Loyola School, Chennai]], India&nbsp;– run by the [[Catholic Diocese of Madras]]. Christian missionaries played a pivotal role in establishing modern schools in India.]]

In ancient India, schools were in the form of [[Gurukul]]s. Gurukuls were traditional [[Hindu]] residential learning schools, typically the teacher's house or a monastery. Schools today are commonly known by the Sanskrit terms ''Vidyashram'', ''Vidyalayam'', ''Vidya'' ''Mandir'', ''Vidya Bhavan'' in India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=School Meaning Sanskrit Arth Translate Kya Matlab|url=https://www.bsarkari.com/school/meaning-sanskrit|access-date=2022-02-20|website=www.bsarkari.com|archive-date=20 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220194512/https://www.bsarkari.com/school/meaning-sanskrit|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In [[Dravidian languages|southern]] languages, it is known as ''[[Pallikoodam]]'' or ''PaadaSaalai''. During the Mughal rule, [[Madrasah]]s were introduced in India to educate the children of Muslim parents. British records show that indigenous education was widespread in the 18th century, with a school for every temple, mosque, or village in most regions. The subjects taught included Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Theology, Law, Astronomy, Metaphysics, Ethics, Medical Science, and Religion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-13|title=Vidyalaya, Vidyālaya, Vidya-alaya: 7 definitions|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vidyalaya|access-date=2022-02-20|website=www.wisdomlib.org|language=en|archive-date=20 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220194503/https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vidyalaya|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Perumacheri AUP School.JPG|left|thumb|A school building in [[Kannur]], India]]
Under British rule, Christian missionaries from England, the United States, and other countries established missionary and boarding schools in India.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jolad |first1=Shivakumar |title=Missionaries and expansion of mass western education in India 1700–1813 |url=https://medium.com/education-policy-flame/missionaries-and-expansion-of-mass-western-education-in-india-1700-1813-fa6d698c355b |website=Medium |access-date=14 June 2023 |language=en |date=2 February 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620142157/https://medium.com/education-policy-flame/missionaries-and-expansion-of-mass-western-education-in-india-1700-1813-fa6d698c355b |url-status=live }}</ref> Later as these schools gained popularity, more were started, and some gained prestige. These schools marked the beginning of modern schooling in India. The syllabus and calendar they followed became the benchmark for schools in modern India. Today most schools follow the [[missionary school]] model for tutoring, subject/syllabus, and governance, with minor changes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bellenoit |first1=Hayden J. A. |title=Missionary Education, Religion and Knowledge in India, c. 1880-1915 |journal=Modern Asian Studies |date=2007 |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=369–394 |doi=10.1017/S0026749X05002143 |jstor=4132356 |s2cid=145084555 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/4132356 |access-date=14 June 2023 |issn=0026-749X |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620152648/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4132356 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Schools in India range from large campuses with thousands of students and hefty fees to schools where children are taught under a tree with a small / no campus and are free of cost. There are various boards of schools in India, namely [[Central Board for Secondary Education]] (CBSE), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), Madrasa Boards of various states, Matriculation Boards of various states, State Boards of various boards, Anglo Indian Board, among others. Today's typical syllabus includes language(s), mathematics, science&nbsp;– physics, chemistry, biology, geography, history, general knowledge, and information technology/computer science. Extracurricular activities include physical education/sports and cultural activities like music, choreography, painting, and theatre/drama.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Education System in India - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation |url=https://www.gnu.org/education/edu-system-india.en.html#:~:text=The%20school%20system%20in%20India,and%20higher%20secondary%20into%20two. |website=GNU Operating System |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531132333/https://www.gnu.org/education/edu-system-india.en.html#:~:text=The%20school%20system%20in%20India,and%20higher%20secondary%20into%20two. |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Europe===
[[File:1887 Bettannier Der Schwarze Fleck anagoria.jpg|thumb|[[Albert Bettannier]]'s 1887 painting ''La Tache noire'' depicts a child being taught about the "lost" province of [[Alsace-Lorraine]] in the aftermath of the [[Franco-Prussian War]] – an example of how European schools were often used in order to inoculate [[Nationalism]] in their pupils.]]
In much of continental Europe, the term ''school'' usually applies to [[primary education]], with primary schools that last between four and nine years, depending on the country. It also applies to [[secondary education]], with secondary schools often divided between ''[[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasiums]]'' and [[vocational school]]s, which again, depending on country and type of school, educate students for between three and six years. In Germany, students graduating from Grundschule are not allowed to progress into a vocational school directly. Instead, they are supposed to proceed to one of Germany's general education schools such as [[Gesamtschule]], [[Hauptschule]], [[Realschule]] or [[Gymnasium (Germany)|Gymnasium]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=School system & compulsory education |url=https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/living-in-germany/family-life/school-system#:~:text=Germany%27s%20school%20system,international%20schools%20which%20charge%20fees. |website=Make it in Germany |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620142200/https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/living-in-germany/family-life/school-system#:~:text=Germany%27s%20school%20system,international%20schools%20which%20charge%20fees. |url-status=live }}</ref> When they leave that school, which usually happens at age 15–19, they may proceed to a vocational school. The term school is rarely used for [[tertiary education]], except for some ''upper'' or ''high'' schools (German: Hochschule), which describe colleges and universities.<ref name="auto"/>

In [[Eastern Europe]] modern schools (after [[World War II]]), of both primary and secondary educations, often are combined. In contrast, secondary education might be split into accomplished or not. The schools are classified as middle schools of general education. For the technical purposes, they include "degrees" of the education they provide out of three available: the first&nbsp;– primary, the second&nbsp;– unaccomplished secondary, and the third&nbsp;– accomplished secondary. Usually, the first two degrees of education (eight years) are always included. In contrast, the last one (two years) permits the students to pursue [[vocational education|vocational]] or specialized educations.

===North America and the United States===
[[File:Farm Security Administration school in Alabama USA 1935.gif|thumb|One-room school in 1935, [[Alabama]]]]In North America, the term ''school'' can refer to any educational institution at any level and covers all of the following: [[preschool]] (for [[toddler]]s), [[kindergarten]], [[elementary school]], [[middle school]] (also called intermediate school or junior high school, depending on specific age groups and geographic region), high school (or in some cases senior high school), college, university, and [[graduate school]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The US Higher Education System Explained |url=https://shorelight.com/student-stories/the-us-higher-education-system-explained/ |website=Shorelight |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620142158/https://shorelight.com/student-stories/the-us-higher-education-system-explained/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the United States, school performance through high school is monitored by each state's [[State education agency|department of education]]. [[Charter school]]s are publicly funded elementary or secondary schools that have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools. The terms [[grammar school]] and ''grade school'' are sometimes used to refer to a primary school due to British colonial legacies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elementary, Grammar, and Secondary Schools {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/elementary-grammar-and-secondary-schools |website=www.encyclopedia.com |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620142157/https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/elementary-grammar-and-secondary-schools |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, there are tax-funded [[magnet school]]s which offer different programs and instruction not available in traditional schools.

===Africa===
In West Africa, "school" can also refer to "bush" schools, Quranic schools, or apprenticeships. These schools include formal and informal learning.

Bush schools are training camps that pass down cultural skills, traditions, and knowledge to their students. Bush schools are semi-similar to traditional western schools because they are separated from the larger community. These schools are located in forests outside of the towns and villages, and the space used is solely for these schools. Once the students have arrived in the forest, they cannot leave until their training is complete. Visitors are prohibited from these areas.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal|last1=Watkins Hanna|first1=Mark|title=The West African "Bush" School|journal=American Journal of Sociology|date=May 1943|volume=48|issue=6|pages=666–675|doi=10.1086/219263|s2cid=144208852}}</ref>
Instead of being separated by age, Bush schools are separated by gender. Women and girls cannot enter the boys' bush school territory and vice versa. Boys receive training in cultural crafts, fighting, hunting, and community laws among other subjects.<ref name=":2" /> Girls are trained in their own version of the boys' bush school. They practice domestic affairs such as cooking, childcare, and being a good wife. Their training is focused on how to be a proper woman by societal standards.[[File:Serrekundamadrassa.JPG|thumb|A ''[[madrasah]]'' in the Gambia|left]]Qur'anic schools are the principal way of teaching the Quran and knowledge of the Islamic faith. These schools also fostered literacy and writing during the time of colonization. Today, the emphasis is on the different levels of reading, memorizing, and reciting the Quran. Attending a Qur'anic school is how children become recognized members of the Islamic faith. Children often attend state schools and a Qur'anic school.

In Mozambique, specifically, there are two kinds of Qur'anic schools. They are the tariqa based and the Wahhabi-based schools. What makes these schools different is who controls them. Tariqa schools are controlled at the local level. In contrast, the Wahhabi are controlled by the Islamic Council.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bonate|first1=Liazat|title=Islamic Education in Africa|date=2016|publisher=Indiana University Press}}</ref> Within the Qur'anic school system, there are levels of education. They range from a basic level of understanding, called chuo and kioni in local languages, to the most advanced, which is called ilimu.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bonate|first1=Lizzat|title=Islamic Education in Africa|date=2016|publisher=Indiana University Press}}{{ISBN?}}</ref>

In Nigeria, the term ''school'' broadly covers [[Child care|daycares]], [[Preschool|nursery schools]], [[primary school]]s, [[secondary school]]s and [[Tertiary education|tertiary institutions]]. Primary and secondary schools are either privately funded by religious institutions and corporate organisations or government-funded. Government-funded schools are commonly referred to as public schools. Students spend six years in primary school, three years in junior secondary school, and three years in senior secondary school. The first nine years of formal schooling is compulsory under the Universal Basic Education Program (UBEC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ubec.gov.ng/about/who-we-are/|title=Universal Basic Education Commission {{!}} Home|website=www.ubec.gov.ng|access-date=2019-12-17|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217011131/https://www.ubec.gov.ng/about/who-we-are/|url-status=live}}</ref> Tertiary institutions include public and private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Universities can be funded by the federal government, state governments, religious institutions, or individuals and organisations.

==Ownership and operation==
Many schools are owned or funded by [[state (polity)|states]]. [[Private school]]s operate independently from the government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mosharraf Zaidi: Why we wanted to believe what Greg Mortenson was selling |url=https://nationalpost.com/full-comment/mosharraf-zaidi-why-we-wanted-to-believe-what-greg-mortenson-was-selling |website=National Post |access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Needs something better than a comment piece in a newspaper|date=June 2023}} Private schools usually rely on fees from families whose children attend the school for funding; however, sometimes such schools also receive government support (for example, through [[School voucher]]s). Many private schools are affiliated with a particular religion; these are known as [[parochial schools]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Parochial education |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/parochial-education |newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=19 June 2023 |language=en |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619083404/https://www.britannica.com/topic/parochial-education |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Components of most schools==
{{See also|Learning environment|Learning space}}
[[File:rathaykentst.jpg|thumb|A school entrance building in Australia|320x320px]]
Schools are organized spaces purposed for teaching and learning. The classrooms where teachers teach and students learn are of central importance. Classrooms may be specialized for certain subjects, such as laboratory classrooms for science education and workshops for [[industrial arts]] education.

Typical schools have many other rooms and areas, which may include:<ref>{{cite web |title=Spaces for Education |url=https://pages.uoregon.edu/ftepfer/SchlFacilities/Spaces.html |website=pages.uoregon.edu |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620142159/https://pages.uoregon.edu/ftepfer/SchlFacilities/Spaces.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Cafeteria]] (Commons), dining hall or canteen where students eat lunch and often breakfast and snacks.
* Athletic field, playground, [[gym]], or track place where students participating in sports or [[physical education]] practice
* Schoolyards, all-purpose playfields typically in [[elementary school]]s, often made of concrete.
* Auditorium or hall where student theatrical and musical productions can be staged and where all-school events such as assemblies are held
* Office where the administrative work of the school is done
* Library where students ask librarians reference questions, check out books and magazines, and often use computers
* [[Computer labs]] where computer-based work is done and the internet accessed
*[[Cultural Activities|Cultural activities]] where the students uphold their cultural practice through activities like games, dance, and music

=== Architecture ===
[[File:Fairfield Public School.jpg|thumb|A classroom block with schoolbag racks in [[Western Sydney]], Australia]]
{{Excerpt|Educational architecture}}
=== Education facilities in low-income countries ===
In [[low-income countries]], only 32% of primary, 43% of lower secondary and 52% of upper secondary schools have access to [[electricity]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000370738|title=#CommitToEducation|publisher=UNESCO|year=2019|isbn=978-92-3-100336-3|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-date=11 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211003256/https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark%3A/48223/pf0000370738|url-status=live}}</ref> This affects access to the [[internet]], which is just 37% in upper secondary schools in low-income countries, as compared to 59% in those in middle-income countries and 93% in those in [[High income countries|high-income countries]].<ref name=":0" />

Access to basic [[water]], [[sanitation]] and [[hygiene]] is also far from universal. Among upper secondary schools, only 53% in low-income countries and 84% in middle-income countries have access to basic drinking water. Access to water and sanitation is universal in high-income countries.<ref name=":0" />

== Security ==
{{main|School security}}
[[File:Warning signs at CHS.jpg|thumb|To curtail violence, some schools have added [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] [[surveillance]] cameras. This is especially common in schools with [[gang activity]] or violence.]]
The safety of staff and students is increasingly becoming an issue for school communities in the U.S., an issue most schools are addressing through improved security. Some have also taken measures such as installing [[metal detectors#Security screening|metal detectors]] or [[Closed-circuit television|video surveillance]]. Others have even taken measures such as having the children swipe identification cards as they board the school bus. These plans have included door numbering to aid public safety response for some schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cards let schools, parents keep eye on their students |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/27/student-technology-tracking/3757459/ |website=USA TODAY |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=15 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515165842/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/27/student-technology-tracking/3757459/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other security concerns faced by schools include bomb threats, gangs, and vandalism.<ref>{{cite web |title=School Vandalism Takes Its Toll |url=https://UdisePlus.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206091739/http://wrensolutions.com/EducationBlog/tabid/532/EntryID/55/Default.aspx |archive-date=6 December 2009 |access-date=3 October 2009 |publisher=UdisePlus.com}}</ref> In recognition of these threats, the United Nations [[Sustainable Development Goal 4]] advocates for upgrading education facilities to provide a safe, non-violent learning environment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SDG4's 10 targets|url=https://www.campaignforeducation.org/en/who-we-are/the-international-education-framework-2/the-sustainable-development-goal-4/sdg4s-10-targets/|access-date=2020-09-22|website=Global Campaign For Education|language=en-US|archive-date=7 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207052027/https://campaignforeducation.org/en/who-we-are/the-international-education-framework-2/the-sustainable-development-goal-4/sdg4s-10-targets/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Health services==
{{Main|School health services}}

School health services are services from medical, teaching and other professionals applied in or out of school to improve the health and well-being of children and, in some cases, whole families. These services have been developed in different ways around the globe. However, the fundamentals are constant: the early detection, correction, prevention, or amelioration of disease, disability, and abuse from which school-aged children can suffer.

==Online schools and classes==
{{Main|Virtual school}}
Some schools offer remote access to their classes over the internet. Online schools also can provide support to traditional schools, as in the case of the [[School Net Namibia]]. Some online classes also provide experience in a class. When people take them, they have already been introduced to the subject and know what to expect. Classes provide high school/college credit, allowing students to take the classes at their own pace. Many online classes cost money to take, but some are offered free.

[[File:Online Classroom example.png|thumb|right|A staged example of an online classroom using [[Jitsi]]. The teacher is sharing their screen.]]

Internet-based distance learning programs are offered widely through many universities. Instructors teach through online activities and assignments. Online classes are taught the same as in-person, with the same curriculum. The instructor offers the syllabus with their fixed requirements like any other class. Students can virtually turn their assignments in to their instructors according to deadlines. This being through via email or on the course webpage. This allows students to work at their own pace yet meet the correct deadlines. Students taking an online class have more flexibility in their schedules to take their classes at a time that works best.

Conflicts with taking an online class may include not being face to face with the instructor when learning or being in an environment with other students. Online classes can also make understanding the content challenging, especially when unable to get in quick contact with the instructor. Online students have the advantage of using other online sources with assignments or exams for that specific class. Online classes also have the advantage of students not needing to leave their house for a morning class or worrying about their attendance for that class. Students can work at their own pace to learn and achieve within that curriculum.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Laird |first=Ellen |date=March 2003 |title=I'm your teacher, not your Internet service provider. |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=9317914&site=eds-live&scope=site |journal=[[Education Digest]] |volume=68 |issue=7 |pages=41 |via=EBSCOhost}}</ref>

The convenience of learning at home has been an attraction point for enrolling online. Students can attend class anywhere a computer can go&nbsp;– at home, in a library, or while traveling internationally. Online school classes are designed to fit a student's needs while allowing students to continue working and tending to their other obligations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2009/04/02/online-education-offers-access-and-affordability |title=Online Education Offers Access and Affordability |publisher=Usnews.com |access-date=17 May 2015 |archive-date=18 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318135851/http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2009/04/02/online-education-offers-access-and-affordability |url-status=live }}</ref> Online school education is divided into three subcategories: Online Elementary School, Online Middle School, Online High school.

==Stress==
{{See also|Cram school}}
As a profession, teaching has levels of [[work-related stress]] (WRS)<ref name="WRS">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrsrecovery.com/ |title=Work-Related Stress in teaching |publisher=Wrsrecovery.com |access-date=3 October 2009 |archive-date=24 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224001814/http://www.wrsrecovery.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> that are among the highest of any profession in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Ross |first=Genesis R. |title=Teacher Stress, Burnout and NCLB: The U.S. Educational Ecosystem and the Adaptation of Teachers |year=2010 |type=MS thesis |publisher=Miami University |url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1272643496 |access-date=18 December 2012}}</ref> The degree of this problem is becoming increasingly recognized and support systems are being put into place.<ref name="TSN">{{cite web |url=http://www.teachersupport.info/ |title=Teacher Support for England & Wales |publisher=Teachersupport.info |access-date=3 October 2009 |archive-date=13 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213104109/http://www.teachersupport.info/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TSNs">{{cite web |url=http://www.teachersupport.info/scotland |title=Teacher Support for Scotland |publisher=Teachersupport.info |access-date=3 October 2009 |archive-date=18 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018174251/http://teachersupport.info/scotland/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Stress sometimes affects students more severely than teachers, up to the point where the students are prescribed stress medication. This stress is claimed to be related to standardized testing, and the pressure on students to score above average.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/2005/2005_05_06.stress06.shtml |title=Survey confirms student stress, but next step is unclear (May 06, 2005) |publisher=Paloaltoonline.com |date=6 May 2005 |access-date=3 October 2009 |archive-date=6 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206002853/http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/2005/2005_05_06.stress06.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/school-stress-anxiety-children |title=Children & School Anxiety, Stress Management |publisher=Webmd.com |access-date=28 March 2010 |archive-date=6 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406222852/http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/school-stress-anxiety-children |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a 2008 mental health study by the Associated Press and mtvU,<ref name="mtvU-AP-2008-survey">{{Cite web |date=2008-03-19 |title=mtvU and Associated Press poll shows how stress, war, the economy and other factors are affecting college students' mental health. |url=http://www.halfofus.com/_media/_pr/mtvU_AP_College_Stress_and_Mental_Health_Poll_Executive_Summary.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228213137/http://www.halfofus.com/_media/_pr/mtvU_AP_College_Stress_and_Mental_Health_Poll_Executive_Summary.pdf |archive-date=2013-02-28 |website=Half Of Us}}</ref> eight in 10 U.S. college students said they had sometimes or frequently experienced stress in their daily lives. This was an increase of 20% from a survey five years previously. Thirty-four percent had felt depressed at some point in the past three months, 13 percent had been diagnosed with a mental health condition such as an anxiety disorder or depression, and 9 percent had seriously considered suicide.<ref name="mtvU-AP-2008-survey" />

==Discipline towards students==
{{Main|School discipline}}
Schools and their teachers have always been under pressure&nbsp;– for instance, pressure to cover the curriculum, perform well compared to other schools, and avoid the stigma of being "soft" or "spoiling" toward students. Forms of discipline, such as control over when students may speak, and normalized behaviour, such as raising a hand to speak, are imposed in the name of greater efficiency. Practitioners of [[critical pedagogy]] maintain that such disciplinary measures have no positive effect on student learning. Indeed, some argue that disciplinary practices detract from learning, saying that they undermine students' dignity and sense of [[Self-esteem|self-worth]]&nbsp;– the latter occupying a more primary role in students' [[hierarchy of needs]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Schools|Education}}
{{div col}}
* [[Bullying in teaching]]
* [[Criticism of schooling]]
* [[Educational technology]]
* [[School pedagogy]]
* [[Free education]]
* [[Lists of colleges and universities by country]]
* [[Lists of schools by country]]
* [[List of songs about school]]
* [[List of television series about school]]
* [[Mobile phone use in schools]]
* [[Music school]]
* [[Secular education]]
* [[School bullying]]
* [[School meal]]
* [[School story]]
* [[School uniform]]
* [[School-to-prison pipeline]]
* [[Military academy]]
* [[Student transport]]
* [[Teaching for social justice]]
* [[University-preparatory school]]
* [[Year-round school]]
* [[Night school]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{Free-content attribution
| title = #CommitToEducation
| publisher = [[UNESCO]]
| page numbers = 35
| documentURL = https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000370738
| license = CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
}}

==External links==
{{Sisterlinks}}

{{Schools}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Educational environment]]
[[Category:Schools| ]]