How participating in morning assemblies will groom you

Morning assemblies are one of the most important aspects of school life for every student.

The approach and activities of the morning assembly may vary from school to school.

Through prayer, reading news headlines, delivering speeches, and reciting the national anthem together, everyone in the school gets a sense of enthusiasm and positive vibes.

It’s like a superpower that the school provides us with.

Before you get too excited, it’s not about swinging on a web like Spiderman, laser eyes like Superman, or super strength just like Captain Marvel.

The superpower here is the confidence, discipline, and being able to speak in front of a crowd of people; which will groom you into better citizens.

So, what exactly is a morning assembly? Well, it’s like a cool club where all students and teachers gather every morning.

It's not just about announcements and speeches; it's a space where confidence, teamwork, and inspiration thrive.

The gathering acts as a stitch that binds together discipline, unity, and inspiration.

While some may dread going to assembly, it’s important to know that this routine is one of the many tools that foster a sense of community and instils values.

In order for you to understand how this routine shapes our champion minds, SmartWorld met with teachers and students to share the benefits behind it.

Chunyu Primary School teacher at Mpwapwa in Dodoma, Joyce Msigwa shares that a morning assembly is like a stage where we learn to talk in front of friends and teachers.

“First of all, the morning assembly speech usually helps build confidence in students so that they can stand in front of people and speak. It also helps them develop their language skills, such as English.

"Also, it entertains and brings unity between students, develops cooperation with each other and teachers, and makes them remember various subjects,” she shares.

You see, it’s like a secret code for improving the different language skills that we all need to have.

On the same note, Ms Joyce sheds light on students who hate morning speeches.

“It’s probably because they lack self-confidence and feel shy when standing before their peers. Sometimes, not knowing their topic leads to that hesitance. However, the biggest problem is the lack of preparation for what they are supposed to present at that time,” she reveals.

She further provides her opinion about this mini-adventure that helps students learn and be able to remember things better.

“I wish every school would include morning speeches, especially in those primary government schools" she says.

“This is because these routines are very helpful in keeping children aware. Sometimes students don’t understand what teachers say during the class, but if they see their peers talking, they can learn and understand easily,” explains Joyce.

A primary school teacher at Njombe, Harrison Harris, encourages family members, the community, and teachers to utilise the benefits of holding assemblies to help foster children's confidence levels.

“There are times students lose the confidence to stand in front of their peers or their elders to share the information they have, and this leads to a hate of morning assemblies, but what's important is that the community, teachers, and family members have the responsibility to help them find the confidence they need to speak,” he explains.

On the other hand, Ileje primary school teacher, Eva Mapunda from Mbeya stresses the importance of creativity in shaping morning assembly speeches.

She suggests that repetitive routines may lead to disinterest among students, emphasising the need for innovation to keep them engaged.

“There is a need for teachers to be creative; failing to do this leads to hate among students who do not participate in the morning assembly. This is because they repeat the same things every day," she shares.

“However, personal hygiene and neatness challenges that some students struggle with is among the things that leads them to miss their morning assemblies because of the poor uniforms they have. That makes it difficult for them to socialise with other children,” she highlights.

Primary school evening tuition tutor in Ukonga, Dar es Salaam, Godfrey Gozbert likens morning assemblies to training grounds for communication skills.

“Public speaking and presenting in front of peers can be exhausting, but when you are up there, it can help you develop crucial communication skills. Over time, students become more confident and articulate which benefits them in their academic and personal spheres,” he shares.

He then says that it’s a platform that serves to address emotional well-being as well.

"It's a platform that creates awareness and emotional resilience that helps students develop emotional intelligence and resilience as well as vital skills for navigating life’s challenges.

Terrence Kadende, a standard six student from Airwing Secondary School, emphasises the multifaceted benefits of morning assemblies.

“Not only is it teaching us how to be able to communicate, it also teaches us to be disciplined when we are in a parade. It also teaches us how to present ourselves as clean people, how to respect others and listen attentively,” he shares.

On the same note, alumni of Standard 7 at Minazi Mirefu Primary School, Nasra Khatibu says: “Morning assembly is a tool that any student needs because it teaches us to be aware and follow up on what is going on around the world. All these are because of the announcements made at the morning assembly,” she shares.

Fear of being wrong has caused this routine to be a dreaded event for many students. As a result, a lack of confidence starts to appear, which becomes a burden and makes it difficult for students.

"Reflecting on my personal experience when I was in Minazi Mirefu Primary school in the 2000s, I too passed through the road before becoming a feature writer and TV presenter," shares another former student.

"I decided to confront my weakness and start practicing speeches in front of classmates, gradually building the courage to face the whole school."

"From that moment on, morning assembly became the place where I used to grow my vocabulary and gain more confidence," he adds.

Being able to speak in front of your peers is an A+, even if it looks scary.

Regularly, this helps to develop and boost confidence because you keep believing more in yourself and your ability to speak fluently.

Here are some of the benefits that any student can learn from the morning assembly speech.

• Stepping out of your comfort zone

• Becoming part of a routine presentation as a student helps keep them focused.

• It is also a way to volunteer for different activities, such as answering questions and being able to solve problems.

• Fosters a sense of unity and belonging in a child

• When in assembly, the whole group of students and teachers act as a single team. Applause and clapping together can mean something to students.

• Morning assemblies offer a unique opportunity for students to develop their communication skills, build confidence, and foster a sense of community.

• Motivates students

• The daily routine of morning assembly unlocks increased engagement in the classrooms. It shows students how fascinating and relatable school subjects are, which could fuel a passion they didn’t know they had.

• Morning assemblies use different learning styles throughout, so students have a high chance of comprehending the material.

While it may seem daunting initially, with persistence and practice, anyone can become a confident public speaker. So, let's embrace this journey and make the most of these valuable experiences!