Mumbai: The Maharashtra government’s decision to merge all-boys and all-girls schools into single co-education institutions has drawn cheer, but also led to concerns, even as the state terms the move an effort to foster “equality and mutual respect” among children.
The decision, announced through a government resolution (GR) dated 7 October, will apply to state-run schools that operate as separate all-girls and all-boys schools but in the same complex. They will be merged into co-ed schools and can apply for the same.
The GR adds, “Co-education creates an environment of equality, increases mutual respect and understanding between the sexes, promotes healthy social and communication skills, and prepares students for the diverse, real-world environment that comes after school.
“Co-education also promotes balanced participation in academics and activities. Running co-educational schools is in line with the times, with the aim of preventing a feeling of gender discrimination in children at the school age and ensuring that boys and girls get the opportunity to study together and develop their personalities in a healthy way.”
While the new rules apply to all government and government-aided schools, education department officials said that if any private school also wants to convert into a co-ed one, they too can apply for the same. The commissioner of the education department has been tasked to oversee the merger.
Maharashtra, according to the education department, has 1,05,700 co-ed schools, which include private as well as government schools. In comparison, the number of all-boys schools across the state is 866 and the number of all-girls schools is 1,602.
Mumbai has 66 all-boys schools, 140 all-girls schools and 3,900 co-ed schools.
Education experts ThePrint spoke to welcomed the merger but highlighted concerns that need to be addressed. They say that although the move is forward looking and would usher in a new era, it will probably also lead to some girls dropping out—a concern the state education department dismissed. Ranjeet Singh Deol, principal secretary in the school education department, told ThePrint that the decision won’t impact girls’ education as many schools are now moving towards co-education and the government wants to promote it.
“We expect schools within the same complex to merge. So that should not be a problem. And as it is, it is not right to differentiate between girls and boys at an early age. We are also asking schools with fewer kids to merge and the final decision rests with the commissioner,” said Deol. “We want to encourage co-ed education. Hence, we expect even private schools to follow the rules,” he added.
Bhausaheb Gawande, an expert in the field of education, said it was necessary that girls and boys study together as it promoted confidence.
“Since I studied in an all-boys school, and even in college, there were only boys in our class, I found it odd and awkward when I had to interact with girls in postgraduate college. It creates a distance and keeping the genders separate is wrong,” he told ThePrint.
Adding, “The time of separation is gone. This is a time to promote gender equality. If boys and girls are made to study separately, integration among them won’t happen.”
‘Needs careful implementation’
Maharashtra has been promoting girls’ education for over a century now, and to promote girl child education, the concept of “only girls” school emerged, the GR notes. “And that is why only girls’ schools started growing in the state and these schools also helped girls study beyond primary education,” it adds.
Speaking to ThePrint, Tanaji Kamble, state president, Maharashtra Progressive Teachers’ Association, said: “If we look at today’s age, this is necessary. There should not be any difference between a girl and a boy. The idea (of co-ed schools) is welcome but it needs to be carefully implemented because there are some communities which, for religious reasons, want to send their girls to only-girls schools.”
Ashraf Reshamwala, headmaster at an all-boys school in Mumbai, was also of the view that co-education encouraged and promoted equality. “There will be healthy competition and they will be motivated. Confidence will be built and it will promote a good balance,” he said.
Deol argued that because of gender-wise separation of schools, resources were getting divided. Right now, for every 60 students, there are two teachers; for 100 students, there are three teachers, according to the government rule.
“Because of the division, we are not able to provide more teachers and this is impacting the quality of education. At many schools, arts, science and such subjects are missing. Through this (merger), there will be more students in school and the teacher-student ratio can be maintained. For example, if even 2-3 percent of students want to study music, a class can be held as a teacher will be available,” said Deol.
‘Dropouts & distraction’
The fear of a huge number of school dropouts among girls, especially from the minority community or conservative families, was raised by several experts. Fatima Ahmed Khan, principal of an all-girls school, said she was worried about dropouts at her school as many students there were from the underprivileged section and minority community.
“There should be separate schools for girls and boys, especially in the minority section where parents are not willing to send their girls to a co-ed school. They are quite traditional. They don’t have such open exposure at their homes and they fear that girls and boys can get distracted if they come together,” said Khan.
Besides, she said the decision of co-education should not be forced and that the school management will have to have a discussion with parents on the same. “I fear many will stop sending their girls to the school,” she reiterated.
Teachers ThePrint spoke to also said students may get distracted at co-ed schools, especially in adolescence and this needs to be carefully handled. Kamble agreed with the view and said a step-by-step process needed to be followed regarding merger.
“The move will impact girls to some extent, especially if we look at traditional families who have conservative thinking. Our society and social reformers have strived hard to get girls into the education stream. So that purpose should not be defeated. So, instead of a mandatory change, if the move is kept at the discretion of schools and parents, it would be better,” said Kamble.
Saroj Patel, who sends her daughter aged 11 to an all-girls school, is one parent who said she was worried about the institution becoming co-ed.
“It was my choice that I sent my girl to an only-girls school in our neighbourhood. We keep on hearing so many things these days. I am worried about her safety. Plus, in her growing years, I don’t want her distracted with anything other than studies,” she added.
Another parent, Ashraf Jahan, who has a daughter and a son, had no qualms about the change. She sent her kids to separate schools because that is how she studied as well.
“Since the last year, our school management took the decision to merge the schools. I think whatever happened was for the good. Now my kids go together and come together. They are learning social skills too,” Jahan said.
Deol said the merger decision had been taken for smaller schools and not the big old legacy schools which had more students. “The final decision has been left to the commissioner of education and is not being imposed, but we definitely want to encourage the idea. Schools which operate separately but in the same complex, I don’t see why they should have any problem with merging,” he told ThePrint.
Reshamwala pointed out some other challenges. He said school infrastructure needed to be upgraded and for that, resources must be made be available. Plus, certain competitions or sports in school are designed keeping boys in mind. So that needs to change.
“The biggest challenge of all is sensitising teachers and students regarding co-education. Some girls, especially teenage girls, feel shy or awkward around boys. And boys need to be sensitised as well. Teachers are also not used to having girl students around. So, they should be trained accordingly,” he said.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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