Experts say ministry's mixed class decision is 'visionary'

Abu Dhabi - An Abu Dhabi-based psychologist said co-education will control behaviour patterns in children, especially boys.

Co-education helps to develop character and good behaviour among boys and girls, experts have said. Doctors and educators praised the decision by the Ministry of Education, which they termed as a visionary one.
An Abu Dhabi-based psychologist said co-education will control behaviour patterns in children, especially boys. "They will have a polished personality. Their social behaviour will better. Both boys and girls will know the dos and don'ts in front of each other," said Dr Santosh Gurmukh Das Kumar, psychiatry and psychology specialist at Universal Hospital.
He said co-education will help develop mutual understanding from an early age. "One of its biggest benefits is that children will be better prepared for a work environment. They will have better understanding to handle various situations."
Kumar said co-education system will help children open a better line of communication with each other. "When children mingle with each other from an early age, they will respect each other in a better way. If children are made to study at girls-only or boys-only schools then they feel shy to interact during future engagements. They will lack the confidence to express their views. So overall this is a good move," he added.
Meanwhile, an educationist said the decision will bring in positive changes in the lifestyle.
"Such a move in public schools will accelerate the UAE's vision to be a progressive nation without any gender discrimination," said Loluck Baby of Dubai-based group Explorars, which functions with a vision of 'transforming learning through experiential travel'.
"This will make boys more responsible and girls more confident in life. Children who grew up in unisex school will find difficult in mingling with the opposite sex in college and workplace," he noted.
Baby said that as per research, girls develop social and life skills faster than boys and in co-education schools, this will help boys to be more disciplined and matured.
"In real life, co-education will reduce the bullying and harassment in school. It will also improve the academic environment by creating a diversity of thoughts and opinions. It will make schools more inclusive and forward-thinking. It will promote all '4Cs' of 21st-century learning skills - critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity," Baby said.
The educationist also spoke about the economics of the decision.
"This will help the government to reduce school operating cost and use facilities and infrastructure to the optimum capacity," Baby noted.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com