The house system is a traitional feature of British, Australian, Canadian, Indian, Sri Lankan, Zimbabwean, South African, Kenyan, Barbadian, Ghanaian and New Zealand schools, similar to the collegiate system of a university. They are also used in American and other schools. Historically it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school. In the case of a day school, however, the word 'house' refers only to a grouping of pupils, rather than to a particular building. The house system has been common in the state sector for many years.