“There are no advantages to single-sex schools, which may foster gender stereotyping in a world that’s getting more and more diverse”, a US psychology professor said recently. But, is it true?
Diane Halpern, former president of the American Psychological Association, said that there are no conclusive evidence to show that separating boys and girls improve their education. Halpern cited all available research on single-sex education published in the last few years, comprising 1.6 million students from all ages in 21 different countries.
A case for co-ed schools
Like Harpen, many argue that diversity offered in Co-ed schools help enhance the social skills of students and prepare them for a world where both gender play vital roles. Co-ed environments teach students to better understand opposite sex, help in ironing out misconceptions and in the process break down gender stereotypes.
"I can openly talk to my guy friends and I value their friendship, said a student. While another explained that “The purpose of education is not just to score good marks but it’s also to understand people around you.” Co-ed enthusiasts point out that both girls and boys have different strengths and traits. They both can get inspired and learn from each other. “School is preparation for adult life,” said a teacher. “How can we expect boys and girls to interact professionally, later in life, if they have no communication at school level? We don’t have gender-segregated workplaces so why gender-segregated schools?”
Does separating boys and girls improve their education? Let’s know in the comments below.
A case for single-sex schools
Supporters of the single-sex model say that, girls learning needs are different from boys and vice versa.
“There will always be exceptions but on the whole, in a mixed classroom, boys tend to dominate discussions, frequently putting themselves forward as leaders in group activities. Girls, meanwhile, are inclined to hold back. So, it’s really only in single-sex environments that girls can take centre stage,” said Helen Fraser, chief executive of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), UK’s leading network of independent girls’ schools in an interview to The Telegraph.
Others say that segregation/groupings is nothing new. In fact, all schools group pupils by age or ability. If this is done keeping in mind the learning needs of students, surely there is no harm in organising along the gender lines too?
The fear that students from single-sex school would later face difficulty in socialising with members of opposite gender is totally baseless. “Studying in single-sex school doesn’t mean that there is an embargo in meeting people from opposite gender. We can freely interact with them outside of school and in our family circles. So, there is no breakdown in communication,” pointed out a student for a single-sex school.
If we go by the research, there is no conclusive evidence to establish which is better—single sex or co-ed. But we have ample research to suggest that whether single-sex or co-ed, the quality of a school is linked to the style of teaching, the breadth of the curriculum and providing conducive environment to pollinate young minds.