New Delhi: Winds of change are likely to sweep through The Doon School in Dehradun, as the historic all-boys institution considers transitioning to a co-educational system, with the aim to embrace evolving societal norms and remain relevant in the changing educational landscape.
However, the proposal has faced strong opposition from the school’s former students, who say that such a shift can fundamentally alter the school’s core identity and its 90-year legacy. A representation by the Class of ‘63, a copy of which is with ThePrint, argued that an all-boys environment allows students to grow without “gender-related distractions”, and that transitioning to co-education could “unpredictably shift” the school’s cultural atmosphere.
Established in 1935, The Doon School is renowned as one of India’s foremost all-boys boarding schools, celebrated for its rigorous academics, leadership development and focus on holistic growth. Although the school is strictly all-boys, exceptions are made for the daughters of staff members or teachers.
Over the decades, Doon has produced a distinguished network of alumni, who have excelled in diverse fields, including politics, the armed forces, bureaucracy, business, journalism, and the arts. Notable figures include India’s sixth prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Odisha’s four-time chief minister Naveen Patnaik, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Business leaders, like Ajit Narain Haksar and Analjit Singh, novelists Amitav Ghosh and Vikram Seth, fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani, and Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra also feature in the list.
On 17 March, the school headmaster, Jagpreet Singh, emailed a document titled “Doon Co-Ed Narrative” to the members of the Indian Public Schools’ Society (IPSS)—a non-profit body that oversees the institution—requesting its feedback and suggestions. He emphasised the importance of engaging in open dialogue on the proposed transition.
“We understand that this is a topic of great importance to our IPSS community, and we highly value your insights and perspectives. To facilitate this discussion, we are sharing a first draft of a four-page evolving document that outlines the rationale, benefits and key considerations, including the implementation of transitioning to a co-education model. Essentially, we are trying to understand the modalities, challenges and goals ahead of us,” he had written in the email, a copy of which is with ThePrint.
He also urged IPSS, which largely comprises Doon School alumni, to review the document and share feedback promptly, so that the necessary revisions can be incorporated and the final detailed document be circulated to all members in April.
There have been calls for this change in the past from various quarters. In 2010, during the 75th Founder’s Day celebrations at the School, former President of India Pratibha Patil had advocated for the admission of girls at the school. Similarly, former Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva had also expressed support for the idea.
Many other prestigious Indian institutions have successfully made the transition to co-education over the years. For example, St. Stephen’s College of Delhi University, which had been an all-male institution after discontinuing co-education in 1950 had reintroduced the system in 1975.
ThePrint contacted the school administration and the headmaster through their communication manager for a comment on the development. The report will be updated as and when a response is received.
Speaking to ThePrint, a member of the Doon School’s Old Boys’ Society, the alumni association, confirmed that a proposal has been sent, adding that it is currently just a concept note under consideration. “The final proposal will be presented to the board of governors, who will deliberate on it, seek feedback from stakeholders, and then decide if it will move forward. For now, it’s just a concept note,” said the former student, requesting anonymity.
In his letter to the members of the society, headmaster Singh had also emphasised that the matter is still “very much in the discussion stage”.
Concerns over ‘toxic masculinity’
The four-page document, a copy of which is with ThePrint, is divided into two parts. The first outlines the rationale for the transition, while the second explores the steps for implementation, should the decision be made.
The document emphasises that globally, many leading boys’ schools have made this shift. “Most of these schools became progressively inclusive, dropping religious, racial, and gender constraints,” it reads.
Highliging that in 1935, when the school was established, a boys-only (single-sex) boarding school was a “natural setting” and good preparation for a life “dominated” by men in universities and workplaces.
“However, the Dosco (alumni of the Doon School) of today needs to be prepared to enter a workforce and a society where women are equal peers, and engage with emotional maturity with women both in his professional and personal lives,” the document adds.
It goes on to highlight that recent studies show no significant advantage of single-sex education, especially in boys-only settings, over co-educational environments. It stresses that Doon’s academic and placement outcomes are matched—and at times surpassed—by several co-ed day schools and selective co-ed boarding schools across the country.
“So, there is no compelling reason for Doon to stay all-boys/single-sex except for the fact that it has always been this way,” it reads.
The document highlights growing concerns over “toxic masculinity”, and emphasises that bullying should never be seen as an acceptable by-product of camaraderie or trust-building in close-knit communities. “While a co-ed environment may not necessarily prevent such excesses, single-gender environments may be more prone to fostering such boorish behaviour, in the absence of the moderating effect of the opposite gender,” it says.
The document also highlights the changing educational landscape of India, saying that many parents are sending their children to co-ed boarding schools abroad, particularly in the UK and US, to prepare for overseas university admissions. International schools, like Dhirubhai Ambani in Mumbai, are also competing with strong placements.
“In this rapidly evolving educational landscape, Doon must urgently review its educational model for relevance. Beyond the benefits of the co-ed setting listed above, the change will increase the applicant pool for the school, enhancing selectivity in the admissions process, while ensuring that the selection criterion is not compromised in any way,” the document says.
‘Not a matter of policy, but legacy’
In their representation to the headmaster, 23 of the 34 members of the Class of 1963 alumni group emphasised that single-sex schools offer tailored teaching methods that address boys’ specific learning styles and developmental needs. “The Doon School has perfected an educational model over the past ninety years, focusing on nurturing young men’s strengths, emotional growth and leadership skills,” the representative said.
ThePrint contacted some signatories, who confirmed the authenticity of the representation, though they preferred to remain anonymous.
The representative further explained that supporters of single-sex education argue that boys and girls learn differently, highlighting that all-boys environments allow students to focus academically and build confidence.
“An all-boys school allows students to grow without gender-related distractions, fostering confidence and camaraderie. Changing to co-education would alter social dynamics and shift the school’s cultural environment in unpredictable ways,” the ex-students said in their representation.
“Your letter talks of ‘toxic masculinity’. That seems to be a very unfair representation of Doscos today,” it added.
In response to the argument that many schools abroad have transitioned to co-education, it said, “It is true that many all-boys boarding schools in the West have taken girls on their rolls. What is often not realised is that lately, with rising costs of boarding, most of them have had difficulty in filling their seats and have turned to co-ed as a solution for survival.”
The Class of 1959 also sent a collective statement against the proposal, calling it a “dangerous precedent with no reversal mechanism”.
“Doon’s identity is not merely a matter of policy, but of legacy. The school is a role model, not a follower…the idea that we must change simply because ‘others are’ is antithetical to the very spirit of leadership that Doon inculcates,” they said.
The statement added that a comprehensive study was conducted in the past on the feasibility of making Doon co-educational. “The conclusion was unequivocal: while co-education is an evolving global trend, Chandbagh itself is not suited for such a transition due to infrastructural, faculty, financial and positioning constraints.”
The alumni have also raised concerns about the infrastructural limitations of expanding the school to accommodate both genders.
In its concept note, however, the school has said that while it has been assessed that the institution can accommodate just under 700 students, the overall student body will be kept between 650 and 700 to ensure no additional ground space is required and facilities remain at current levels.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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“the moderating effect of the opposite gender” – are we being serious here?
Why is it that only the all-boys institutions are under pressure to change to co-ed? Why don’t the all-girls institutions change to co-ed too?
What kind of journalism is this Ms. Iftikhar?
The rubbish that goes around nowadays under the term “toxic masculinity” – are we to suppose that “toxic feminity” does not exist or is less harmful for society?
Yellow journalism masquerading as feminism.