Hundreds of male students wearing traditional Azhari robes (galabiyyas) and distinctive white caps with red trim stand in organized rows during the morning assembly at an Al-Azhar school in Qena, Upper Egypt. Al-Azhar schools are part of the Al-Azhar educational institution, one of the oldest and most prestigious Islamic educational systems in the world, combining religious and academic curricula. The scene is set outdoors under mature trees in warm early morning light, characteristic of Upper Egypt's school environments.