No more boys’ or girls’ schools: Maharashtra govt orders conversion to co-education

The Maharashtra government has announced its decision to merge separate boys' and girls' schools into co-educational institutions, ending the single-gender school system that has been running in the state for decades.

The Maharashtra School Education and Sports Department in its corrigendum amended its earlier decisions from 2003 and 2008. The move follows the Bombay High Court bench’s order in Petition no. 3773/2000 that "girls' schools should no longer be allowed separately".

The state government noted that co-education creates an environment of equality, increases mutual respect, and understanding between the different genders, promotes healthy social and communication skills, and prepares students for the diverse, real-world environment that comes after school.

“Co-education also promotes balanced participation in academics and activities. Running co-educational schools is in line with the times, with the aim of preventing the development of gender discrimination in children at the school age and ensuring that boys and girls get the opportunity to study together and develop their personalities,” the official statement read.

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As per the UDISE+ 2024-25 report, 1.54% of 1.08 lakh schools in Maharashtra are girls-only, while 0.74% are boys-only schools.

What does the order say?

Taking into account the Bombay High Court judgement and considering the changes that have taken place over time, the Maharashtra government superseded its earlier decisions and ordered:

• If there are separate schools for boys and girls in the same premises, they should be immediately merged and converted into co-educational schools. Accordingly, the implementation powers have been given to the Commissioner (Education), Maharashtra State.
• In addition, if schools which are functioning separately submit proposals for recognition of joint schools, the Commissioner (Education), Maharashtra State has been given the power to approve such proposals.

The order has been issued in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra, making it an official policy shift to have co-education schools in the state.