Home News India’s southern state schools to go gender neutral

India’s southern state schools to go gender neutral

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the Education department to convert all schools in the state into co-ed schools

India’s southern state of Kerala is ushering in a “revolutionary change” to its educational system starting next academic year 2023 by implementing co-education in all state schools.

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the Education department to convert all schools in the state into co-ed schools.

The commission said co-education will help create awareness about gender justice, mutual respect, should help curb crimes against women.



The recommendation was made following a petition by one Issac Paul who argued that gender justice was denied in the state’s exclusive schools.

According to the order, international studies schools demonstrated that co-ed schools instill mutual respect and ensure gender equality.

Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty told the state assembly earlier this month that the state government had converted 11 exclusive schools to co-ed schools.

More such schools are expected to follow after the Parent-Teacher Association gives its approval.

- Newsletter -

There are 280 girls only and 164 boys only government schools in the state, according to the Directorate of Public Instructions.

Father Charles Leon, secretary for the Education Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council said KCBC is in favor of mixed schools, saying it is necessary for the integral development of children.

KCBC has issued a directive to convert all schools to mixed schools, depending on the approval of parents and school administrations.

For conversion to mixed schools, extra infrastructures, such as playgrounds and rest rooms, have to be provided.

Father Leon said the only reservation, especially for girls schools, is safety. “Some of our schools are co-ed and discipline and safety are not major issues,” said the priest.

He said that in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, the Carmelites and Claretian congregations have already converted some of their schools to mixed ones.

Michael William, dean at Mount Carmel School, said he does not agree to the proposal, adding that each school was started by a certain group of people with a vision, and that vision must be respected.

He said some schools are military schools, some sports, and some girls’ convents and some are boys schools.

William, who runs a number of mixed and exclusive schools, said private institutions are running with different visions.

He cited Article 30 of the Constitution that allows minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

“I don’t see how government can even consider mandating mixed schools. I am completely against this. It goes against the very face of the autonomy of schools,” he said.

“I don’t think there is anything so integral and so needed that the autonomy of the school and its freedom to choose what its vision is needs to be arrested and stopped for that,” William added.

William said that before the government decides to completely change the vision and design of a particular school, enough study and research should be done to show that children have been severely affected by their attendance in exclusive schools.

He said that in the absence of such study, a status quo should be maintained. “You need to take an educated decision when it comes to schools not a ‘knee-jerk reaction’ to any petition,” he said, adding that the government commission should conduct the study across the country.

“To maintain that one size fits all does not work, especially in India,” said William.

© Copyright LiCAS.news. All rights reserved. Republication of this article without express permission from LiCAS.news is strictly prohibited. For republication rights, please contact us at: [email protected]

Support Our Mission

We work tirelessly each day to tell the stories of those living on the fringe of society in Asia and how the Church in all its forms - be it lay, religious or priests - carries out its mission to support those in need, the neglected and the voiceless.
We need your help to continue our work each day. Make a difference and donate today.

Latest