In many Malaysian schools, it is a long-standing practice for students to sit on the floor during morning assemblies.
Depending on the facilities available, some schools conduct assemblies in halls where students sit cross-legged on the floor, while others hold them outdoors on cement or tar surfaces.
Debate
This familiar scene recently sparked debate after a youth took to Threads to express his dissatisfaction with the arrangement at his younger sibling’s school. He said he was shocked to see students seated on the hot floor while teachers sat comfortably on chairs.
I watched my sibling’s assembly this morning and was stunned. All the teachers were leaning back in chairs while the students had to sit on the hot floor, cross-legged like they’re at a camp,” he wrote.
“These kids aren’t made of wood. They’ll need their backs for life. The floor is hard, they’re so skinny — yet only adults get chairs.”
He also questioned why students would be labelled “undisciplined” for adjusting their position despite the discomfort, suggesting teachers themselves would struggle to sit on the floor even for five minutes.
Unnecessary issue
However, his post did not gain the sympathy he expected. Instead, many Threads users criticised him for turning a routine school practice into an unnecessary issue.
Others pointed out that assemblies had been conducted this way for decades.
Some went further, saying previous generations even had to stand during assemblies — implying that today’s students already enjoy better conditions.
