Co-education in UAE helps to develop healthy gender ties

Dubai - Many private schools in the UAE have mixed classrooms.

All government schools in the UAE are now teaching boys and girls side-by-side in Grade 1 (pupils aged five to six) from this academic year which began in September. The move was following a decision by the education authorities in the country.
This major policy change from the Ministry of Education (MoE) will be upgraded to other grades in all public schools on a yearly basis. The new strategy will include Grade 2 next academic year and then continue until mixed classes are in operation up to Grade 4.
Many private schools in the UAE have mixed classrooms but public schools have been separating boys and girls.
Jameela bint Salem Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, told Khaleej Times that the ministry introduced the co-education system to improve the classroom atmosphere and promote socialisation of pupils.
"Girls and boys mingle in kindergarten and we believe if they continue studying together until Grade 4, it can help them better understand each other, do class work and play together," she said. "I think segregation of pupils at this age doesn't help them any better because they are still small kids and need to socialise."
Al Muhairi added that all research across the world indicates that segregation in the class doesn't favour boys or girls and that it is the reason the ministry is now trying co-education in public schools.
"We have started trying the system of mixed classes in Grade 1 and we will be looking at the outcomes to see if it's better for the children and whether we can continue with the system," she said. "If you look at countries like the United Kingdom and others, lower classes up to Grade 6 are mixed. They usually segregate pupils, for instance; boys only or girls only schools, starting from secondary school level."
The minister said though mixed classes were something new to the Emirati society, the ministry is encouraging it because they believe it would have a good impact in the future, especially in regards to children's social behaviour and performance.
"Having mixed gender classes will be good for the pupils' future, especially when they go out into the world. We encourage it for our schools because it has been successful elsewhere," said Al Muhairi.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

Most parents happy about the decision
Parents have hailed the co-education or mixed class system that has been implemented in public schools this academic year by the Ministry of Education. The new system in the UAE national culture, where boys study in the same class alongside with girls, has started with Grade 1 students across the country.
Salma Rashid, 29-year-old Emirati mother, whose two children are in Grade 1 and Grade 3 at public schools in Abu Dhabi, said she likes the idea of mixed classes.
"This is really a good system. It will help our children learn how to socialise with pupils of other gender who are not related with them at an early age," she told Khaleej Times when asked about the co-education system.
"For our generations, the case has been that boys can only mix with girls after reaching the university. But with the new education system, this will change."
Rashid added that when boys study alongside girls in the same class, it reduces stubbornness and can help prevent them from being naughty at school. "Boys' behaviour is better when the classes are mixed. They are often badly behaved, but being around the girls will help them to behave better."
Jameela Nader, 51, said that although her boy is now in Grade 5 where the new system doesn't apply, mixed classes are generally good for small children. "I see no problem with boys studying in the same class with girls at such a small age," she said.
"I wish my boy had gone through such a system because it can help children make friends and learn how to deal with people of the opposite sex at a young age."
For Heba Al Futaisi, a 36-year-old Emirati businesswoman and mother of three, mingling of children in lower primary is a positive idea.
"Life has changed and people are now mixing anywhere, at work, university and other public places. So making pupils study together will help them learn how to socialise with the opposite sex at a small age," she said.
Jameela Al Shamsi, 39, said: "Boys mingling with girls in class will help change children's behaviour positively and will reduce bad manners. It will be a safe system as there are of course, rules and regulations in schools."
However, Aseela Abdullah, 27-year-old mother of three kids, said she doesn't want to see her kids study in mixed classes because it's against the UAE culture. "I don't like the system where girls mingle with boys in class. This is not our culture and I don't want my kids to attend such classes because they will not be free in class and this can affect their performance," she said.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai