Are single-gender schools doing more harm than good?

Studies have found that single-gender schools breed stress and boys who spend more time in each other’s company are likely to become aggressive, while girls could turn timid. DNA explores...

In a co-ed school, students are naturally more relaxed and open
There are definitely more benefits of studying in a co-educational system than single-gender system. Anyways, boys and girls have to live together later in their lives. So then why not put the habit from schooling days so that they are comfortable with each other when they step into college or society. I feel co-ed students are in better position to understand each other and both will not feel shy to confront the opposite sex.

I don’t feel single-gender schools breed stress. It all depends on the school environment and the management. Whether it is co-ed or single-gender, stress also depends on the kind of teachers students interact with, study pattern followed and openness maintained in the school management. In a co-ed school, students are naturally more relaxed and open. However, we have to keep a check on the student behaviour and rectify misbehaviour immediately.
— Vineeta Arora, director and principal, Vatsalya School (Co-ed)

In co-ed schools, boys give little chance to girls to show their talent
I don’t think single-gender Indian schools breed stress among the students. What happens in co-education schools is that the boys try to dominate girls, giving little chance to girls to show their talent or express themselves openly. In our school, girls and boys are taught separately in regular classrooms and are only brought together for certain school activities. I don’t think these students will face any problem in adolescence period when they step into college life. Initially, it might take time to adjust to a new co-ed environment, but eventually students adapt to changes.
— Vivek Ponkshe, principal, Jnana Prabhodhini Prashala

Boys from single-gender schools feel shy to talk with girls
Usually what is observed is that in single-gender schools, teachers are found to be strict with students and this can build stress among the students. Another factor that can lead to stress for students in single-gender schools is peer pressure, which can affect teen behaviour. Boys seem to be more rowdy and mischievous. Co-educational system gives girls and boys an opportunity to mix leading to an environment which is livelier and open.

I have dealt with few college students as patients who had withdrawn themselves into a shell and felt depressed. After few sittings, I found out that they studied in single-gender schools. As they were suddenly pushed into college life where they had to face the opposite sex, they found it difficult to deal with the situation. Especially boys from single-gender schools, who don’t have any sisters at home, are in a worse situation. They feel shy to interact with girls.
— Dr Seema Darode, clinical psychologist

In co-eds, girls and boys are bolder and have healthy friendships
I am working with municipal school adolescents. There are various other reasons due to which the students are under stress. I can say one point in favour of co-eds; the girls and boys are bolder and have healthy friendships. But if girls study in single-gender schools, they may be timid and diffident. Communication with boys is difficult for them. Preferably co-eds are better but in India, even now, girls are prevented from going to school.
However, if single-gender schools are available then at least parents make an attempt to send their daughters to school. In Pune municipal schools, the dropout rate is higher when the girl reaches standard IX. The reason given by parents is that boys tease girls and for safety purposes they would like to keep their daughters home.
— Vinaya Bhosekar, director, Working Together Centre, student counsellor

Girls in single-gender schools can easily share problems with teachers
One cannot make an outright statement saying that students studying in single-gender schools are stressed. Rather I would say it is the approach of society that may stress the students. People are not very welcoming to such students as the co-ed schools are most sort after. If this thought process is changed, the students will not feel stressed. I also think that girls studying in single-gender schools are much more free and comfortable with the teachers and can openly share their problems. This may not be possible in co-ed schools.
— Kiran Jotwani, principal, St Mira’s Secondary School for girls