Log in

fd97207
0
Average Rating: 0 Log in to rate

In India there are two types of schools – co-ed schools that admit both boys and girls, and single-gender schools which either admit only boys, or only girls. Both types of schools are popular. I myself went to a single-gender school that was exclusively for boys. I believe the practice of single-gender schools must have been inherited from the British, though not sure.

Proponents of girls-only schools must think that such schools shield young and vulnerable girls from a sexually vulgar environment. I think it’s a valid point to some extent. I remember in my school, sexually abusive language was a common occurrence among students. Although I do not know whether this has changed in the past 15 years, I would guess that it hasn’t - and is a sad reality in India. I shudder to think how a girl would feel in such a surrounding. A large percentage of people, especially the poor, have a sick mindset and attitude towards girls and women. This is the cause of rapes and other brutalities committed against females in India.

Another reason I can think of in favor of girls-only schools is to protect girls from violence that is also common among school going boys in India.

So in the end, it comes down to sex and violence. And if you are of a conservative mindset, its not hard to see why you would prefer a girls-only school for your daughter in India.

I think once we accept the need of girls-only schools, the concept of a boys-only school can be derived from it. Imagine the extreme case when girls are only sent to a girls-only school; then every co-ed school automatically becomes a boys-only school. Male chauvinism could also be a lesser reason for a boys-only school.

Is it easier to administratively manage a single-gender school vs. a co-ed school? I think not, but could be wrong. Of course, a co-ed school needs to have separate restrooms for boys and girls, and some other amenities which I can’t think of right now, but I am counting this as negligible administration overhead.

It would be very interesting to compare the degree of “sex and violence” in co-ed vs. single-gender schools in India. I am not aware if such a research has already been done, but it would be very valuable – I hope there are some social science researchers reading this. I think it is well known and accepted that our actions are influenced by our surrounding environment. The other day one of my cousins was remarking that the same crowd that litters in Delhi streets, behaves nicely in the metro rails. Do boys in co-ed schools behave well when they see that there are girls around, out of inner shame? My guess is yes, although only a proper study can provide a reliable answer. I unfortunately don’t even have the experience of studying in both a co-ed and a boys-only school to give a better qualified opinion.

In my school, boys used to bunk classes in order to meet girls from other schools. This would not happen if the school were co-ed.

To pick my own personal case, I have no regret of going to a boys-only school. I have been successful in my life. But I only started interacting with girls when I graduated to college, and I remember I was very shy of girls – a shyness that still exists even today after marriage, although to a lesser degree. The other day, one of my friends remarked that a girl who was schooled in a girls-only school started shivering on her first day to college, when she saw boys around.

In the end, I believe although its not a big deal whether you choose single-gender over co-ed, co-ed schools are preferable as it allows students to mingle with peers from opposite sex, and learn to socialize with them from an early age. This helps in better personality development, right from a young age. A liberal India would be wise to choose co-ed schools, and co-ed swimming pools among other things.

Log in to comment