Mixed reaction to co-education

Dubai: As one-time single-gender institutions increasingly admit batches of students of the opposite sex, there has been a mixed reaction from existing students who are hotly debating the issue.

Officials at these institutions say education must evolve in a pragmatic way while still bearing in mind the traditions, cultures and comfort levels of the country's population.

In January this year, the Zayed University Council announced 100 male students will be admitted to its Knowledge Village campus and 50 to its Abu Dhabi campus.

Dubai Women's College (DWC) began admitting male paramedic students to its campus about four years ago and the University of Sharjah has combined its medical and fine arts and design colleges while the others remain segregated by gender.

"We do have a few male students in the paramedic programme," said DWC director Dr Howard Reed. "It was a bit provocative and not everybody liked it in the beginning. Because of the rude treatment that the male students received from the female students, the male students were not too sure about it either!"

Ministry feedback

Commenting on the recent intake of students of the opposite gender at publicly-funded universities, Professor M. Badr Aboul-Ela, Director of the Commission for Academic Accreditation at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said, "It is just the beginning of such a thing this year. I cannot answer (whether there is an increasing trend toward co-education)."

"We live in a country with certain cultural norms that one needs to respect and until now they (parents) would like their daughters to attend separate gender institutions."

Aboul-Ela said he was not aware of any ministerial discussion about increasing the intake of opposite genders at single-gender institutions.

Ministry view: 'Too soon to tell'

Commenting on the recent intake of students of the opposite gender at publicly funded universities, Professor M. Badr Aboul-Ela, Director of the Commission for Academic Accreditation at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said: "It is just the beginning of such a thing this year. I cannot answer [whether there is a trend towards co-education] ... We live in a country with certain cultural norms that one needs to respect and until now they [parents] would like their daughters to attend separate gender institutions."

Is a co-education school the way to go? Or should students be segregated in university? Which do you think would serve a better educational environment?

In my opinion, Co-education is the right method to follow in a school or university. Still, cultural norms of a country are more important. Every country has certain traditions which we need to respect. Altering the culture would mean a change in outlook which could show the country in a different light. If the people are uncomfortable about a new concept, their sentiments must be considered. Co-education aids interaction between girls and boys helps them in their careers and decisions. Though it seems pragmatic and would serve a better educational environment, it cannot be instilled against the wishes of the people of the country. Mixed schools and separate gender schools could both coexist allowing parents to choose the school of their choice. Co-education systems must not be forced. It has to be a voluntary choice.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 14:13

We have to respect the Arabic and Islamic culture of this country. If we take the US as an example, there are many higher institutions that commit to one gender only. We really don't need to mix, we have the resources and we have the facilities, there is no need to help corrupt our young.
Dr. Baker Ahmad Alserhan
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 12:01

I am all with co-education since both male and female students need to get used to a mixed environment in order to avoid any awkward feelings or situations at their future workplace.
Maitha
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 10:56

I believe that co-education can be allowed in universities and professional colleges. The mental level of the students who reach such institutes is matured. But instead of just introducing the opposite sex in the uni-sex education institutes unilaterally, opinion polls must be conducted to know what students think and how they will cope with the new induction.
Suhail Malek
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 10:27

I do not support co-education, it is not even suitable to our culture. I heard lot of incidents from co-education colleges. In such circumstances, they cannot concentrate on their studies, ultimately spoiling their careers.
Razaq
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 09:14

Co-education is a good thing as it prepares youngsters from an early age on the realities of the work place and the mixed environment that they as young men and women will encounter when taking up employment.Children who attend mixed schools also learn from a young age how to behave respectfully and appropriately with members of the opposite sex - eliminating potential 'unease' that they might otherwise experience when in a mixed environment later on in life.
Sarah Louise
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 08:56

I think that there should be co-education because when seprate genders study together, then some competetion is built between boys and girls, which increases the interest of every one to study.
Fahad
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 08:54

Hi,I would like to share my personal experience. I did my schooling from a girls-only school and my college followed co-ed system. Being used to a girls only environment I was so very nervous confronting boys to the extent that I nearly fainted every time a male classmate tried to talk to me in college . This happened because I wasn't acquainted with a co-ed system. College is occupied by a more mature group of lads and lasses, hence yes, this is a great opportunity to get to know and share healthy comaraderie with the other sex.After all, we live on a single planet sharing space equally between the genders, so why the need of a wall separator ???
Tina Albert
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 08:41

I personally believe that co-education should be a must. I studied in a girls school till grade five and since grade six in a co-ed. I was really very scared to mingle with boys as I kept them from my life thinking of them as some scary beings, from what I had been taught in my previous schools. Schools separate girls and boys thinking that it may create problems, but what I feel is that the more you restrict the more dangerous it is. Most girls don't know how to behave with boys and are usually immature in this area.I support co-education. If there is a doubt that the children may misuse this, let me make it clear that, after giving a little freedom the level of strictness will come up, because they know they are being watched and so will not mess up much. Freedom always comes with rules.
Reeny
Sharjah,U.A.E.
Posted: March 01, 2009, 08:33

Co-education is Haram (prohibited) as per Islamic teachings, this should be avoided at all cost. Men and women mixing together is not allowed in Islam.
Shabir Zain Al Deen
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 08:18

Co-education is the way to go for sure! Though statistics prove that acamdemic performance does go down with co-education.At the same time it fosters a better understanding of the opposite sex. This helps in reducing gender conflicts in relationships in the future. This is very useful in a highly patriarchal society, especially in the attitude of the men towards women.
Hari Kumar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 07:44

In this century theres nothing wrong in co-education. Co-education existed in UAE schools even in my school days in the 80s.
Jimmy Jacob
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 06:40