Gender parity or safety risk? Maharashtra’s co-educational school mandate sparks debate

Maharashtra’s recent decision to make co-education mandatory across all schools and phase out single-gender ones has brought to the fore an old debate in Indian education – can gender equality in classrooms be legislated, or must it evolve through consent and community trust?

The order, issued by the state’s School Education Department this week, directs that all new schools in Maharashtra must be co-educational and that existing boys’ and girls’ schools gradually convert to mixed systems. Officials said the move was designed to “foster equality and social inclusion” by allowing students of all genders to learn together from an early age.

Maharashtra’s schools are already overwhelmingly co-educational. According to the Ministry of Education’s UDISE+ 2024-25 dashboard, the state has 1,12,837 schools, of which 1,09,293 are co-educational, 1,570 are boys-only, and 1,974 are girls-only. That means more than 96% of all schools in Maharashtra already operate as co-educational institutions.

Rishi K who has worked as a policy consultant in Chennai and in Mumbai said the policy aims to “remove the last remaining barrier” in the system. “Segregation reinforces stereotypes,” he said.

Maharashtra Co-ed Schools: A step toward social parity

Many educationists and child psychologists have welcomed the decision, arguing that mixed-gender classrooms build confidence, respect, and collaboration skills that are essential for social development.

“Co-education mirrors the real world,” said Dr Meenakshi R, an educationist and former principal in Pune. “It helps children learn to communicate across gender lines without bias. It’s one of the most effective ways to create gender awareness and mutual respect.”

Child rights experts say that co-education reduces the ‘othering’ that often starts early in single-gender environments. “When children study together, gender ceases to be a divider,” said Radhika*, an independent education consultant. “Boys learn empathy; girls gain confidence.”

They also collectively cite evidence from states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where co-educational schooling is almost universal and where gender participation in secondary education has reached parity.

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Co-ed Schools: Safety, infrastructure, parental acceptance

However, the announcement has also drawn a wave of concern, especially from parents, teachers, and religious school managements who say the move ignores ground realities.

“For many parents in smaller towns, girls’ schools are seen as safe spaces,” said an education sociologist who used to work at Savitribai Phule Pune University. “If those options disappear, some families may withdraw girls from school altogether.”

“We are not against equality, but safety must come first,” said Rekha Patil, mother of a Class 9 student. “Girls are more comfortable in single-gender classrooms. If co-ed is made compulsory without proper infrastructure and training, it could cause more harm than good.”

“Even if schools become co-ed, the mindset in society doesn’t change overnight,” said Vijaya D, a parent whose two daughters study in a girls’ school. “We have to think about how children will be treated on the way to school, in shared facilities, and by older students. Equality inside the classroom is fine, but safety outside it worries us the most.”

“Article 30 gives minorities the right to administer their institutions according to their beliefs,” said an administrator of a Christian management association in Bengaluru. “We support gender inclusion, but our schools have distinct pedagogical and cultural traditions that need to be respected.”

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Some students welcome the change, seeing it as an opportunity for growth. “I think learning with boys will help girls like me speak up more and participate in class without fear,” said Sneha, a Class 10 student from Pune. “We already have some co-ed classes, and it’s fun to work together on projects and debates.”

Others, however, remain apprehensive. “My sister studies in a girls-only school because she feels safe and can focus without distractions,” said Priya, a college student whose sister studies in Nanded. “If schools suddenly become co-ed, I worry about how she’ll adjust, especially with facilities like toilets and sports activities.”

Co-education in Schools: Experts urge phased rollout

“Co-education must be accompanied by teacher training and robust safety protocols,” said Anita Murali, former syllabus adviser from Chennai. “Without proper sensitisation, newly merged schools could see increased discomfort or harassment among students.”

She added that safety measures are equally crucial. “Experts I know also recommend steps such as separate and secure toilets, monitored corridors, clearly defined grievance redressal systems, and counseling facilities to support students as they adjust to a mixed-gender environment. Without these, co-education could unintentionally increase anxiety or incidents of bullying, particularly in districts where single-gender schooling has been the norm for decades.”

Murali emphasised that such capacity-building measures are essential to prevent both physical and emotional distress. “These steps ensure that the reform is not just a policy on paper, but a meaningful and safe experience for students,” she said.

“The move places Maharashtra ahead of other major states in pursuing gender-integration reforms. While the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 encourages inclusive and gender-sensitive environments, it does not make co-education mandatory, instead leaving implementation to state discretion”, said Diksha* another policy maker from Chennai who has worked in rural areas in and around India who also closely studies recent developments in education and employment out of personal interest.

States such as Kerala and Delhi promote co-education through expansion, but still retain a small number of single-gender schools — especially for girls — to address dropout concerns in rural and conservative areas, added Diksha.

*Names changed on request