A group of young boys wearing the distinctive Al-Azhar school uniform — blue gallabiya (جلابية) and red-and-white caps — sit at wooden desks inside a traditional classroom in Qena, Upper Egypt. Al-Azhar schools are part of Egypt's oldest and most prestigious Islamic educational institution, founded in 970 AD, providing students with both religious and general academic curricula. Colorful children's books are visible on the desks, and additional students are seated in the background.