Would you enroll your child in a same-gender or co-ed school?

It is the dream of every responsible parent to see his or her child acquires the best of education and thus excel in life. Ordinarily, every child has to go through certain stages in their educational journey. The second phase of education, which is equally important, is the secondary or high school. Nowadays, there are varieties of schools both co-educational and single gender, to choose from all over the country. The question as to whether to educate your children in a single gender or mixed school can be a sticking point for some parents. A cross section of respondents gave different yet interesting views on the issue.
Fatima Ahmed, a 30-year-old housewife believes that every parent has his or her own choice and the reason behind it. She said as a parent, one has to decide which one is going to work best for his or child because every individual is different: “I don’t see why I would take my children to a single gender school. My first child is in a mixed boarding school and I plan to do the same with my other children who are yet to complete their primary school. I believe mixed schools give students one of the best opportunities to be well rounded in their development, particularly the social aspect of it. I want my children to have a cross- gender interaction with the opposite gender because it shapes them in overcoming shyness thereby giving them confidence to relate with each other easily.”
Forty-five-year-old businesswoman, Maman Iyabo, says what is right for one child isn’t necessarily right for another, the most important thing is that people have a choice. She adds that there is right or wrong when it comes to such an issue as both mixed and single schools have advantages and disadvantages.
“In my opinion mixed schools work better for my children even though it has its downside as well. Mixed schools prepare students to start facing the reality of life earlier than those in single gender schools. Students tend to adjust to the opposite gender while in school and as such will be ahead in living his or her life rather than start making adjustments after school like most single school students do when they graduate,” Iyabo explained.
She noted that mixed schools create competition between both genders, making children perform better as the boys wouldn’t want girls to do better than them academically, especially in Nigerian schools where there is first, second and third position: “Children strive hard to take the first position, which I believe is very good and will boost a child’s performance.”
Ikechuku Simon, 44, a civil servant, is of the view that single gender schools would be a better choice for his children. He claims that single schools are more disciplined and stricter in terms of student conduct: “I prefer single gender schools to mixed schools because most single schools are popular within faith schools that are associated with academic benefits. Personally, I believe single schools help students to focus on their studies as there is no opposite gender to distract them.”
Simon however says different parents have different reasons and choices, adding that he understands why some parents pick mixed over single sex schools. One most important reason people argue about mixed school is that children can become extra-competitive when the two genders study together and that students may be more inclined to experience relationships with the opposite gender earlier if they are studying alongside them.
“What I believe is that parents choose what works for them and therefore it is hard to pick one and say is better than the other,” he stated.
A student of the University of Abuja, Christy Tarfa, argues that both schools have advantages and disadvantages, but she would however, choose a mixed school any day anytime: “Enrolling your child or ward, especially a girl-child in a single school tends to bring about a bad relationship with her fellow friends (lesbianism). While on the other hand, the mixed school brings about relationship with a boy, which could result to an early unwanted pregnancy. For a male child, he tends to keep bad friends and also have a girlfriend when he is not of age. But I will still prefer the mixed school because children learn to know things about different people around them and how to socialise.”
Rabiu Ahmed, a secondary school teacher, says he can send his child to either regardless of his or her gender. What he will first consider is the school management, the quality of the teachers and the learning environment.
“Many parents are apprehensive of enrolling their wards in single gender schools because of vices like lesbianism and other unethical acts. On the other hand, some parents have the belief that co-educational schools expose children to early romantic relationship with the opposite gender. But many claim that mixed school is the best as it offers a good atmosphere for interaction between girls and boys, which helps in no small measure in shaping their mutual understanding in the long run,” Ahmed reasoned.
Mary Steven, a 27-year-old lawyer, says there is no right or wrong when it comes to making such a decision as each school has its advantages and disadvantages: “I want the best for my child therefore I will take my child to a mixed school. However, on the condition that the child would go from the house so that I will be able to monitor his or her growth spiritually, emotionally and otherwise.”