The government’s new co-education policy is a failed Western concept inconsistent with the teachings of Islam, the Adhaalath Party has said.
“Co-education is a concept introduced at the beginning of this century by Western countries, and later spread across the Islamic world by colonial force”, a statement issued by the Adhaalath Party said.
It is a concept that is alien to the emphasis that Islamic teachings place on gender segregation in the education system, the statement read.
Furthermore, Adhaalath said, co-education has been proven more harmful than beneficial “by modern research.”
Citing American writer, anti-feminist and Republican Party activist George Gilder, the Adhaalath Party said co-education has been known to “accelerate puberty in students and increase the testosterone levels of boys by 20 percent.”
“As a result, boys spend their time in a state of heightened sexual turmoil,” the party claimed.
The statement read that girls suffer similar consequences, with increased sexual hormones, and “often suffer from fatigue and depression as a result.”
Students of both sexes, therefore, it said, “spend more time focusing on the opposite sex than on their studies.”
Adhaalath Party also added that it was “astonished” that the Education Ministry was attempting to introduce a system of education that is not only against Islam, “but has also been tried, tested and failed in the West.”
Adhaalath Party also contradicted findings that attribute high academic achievements at Ahmadiyya School to its co-education policy.
“Not only are the boys and girls at Ahmadiyya being taught in separate classrooms – even the entrances used by the two sexes are separate,” Adhaalath said.
Deputy Minister of Education Dr Abdulla Nazeer recently told Minivan News the ministry has not decided to mix female and male students in the secondary grades.
“But we have decided to establish primary grades in all the schools,’’ Nazeer said. ‘’So Majeediyya School, Dharumavantha, Ameeniyya and Hiriya will no longer be solely for Secondary education.’’
Secondary education will be provided in all the primary schools as well.
Currently only male students can join Majeediyya and Dharumavantha while only females can join Ameeniyya and Hiriya school. They teach grade eight, nine and ten, the final three years leading up to GCE O’Levels.
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Why is it that this Adaalath is able to Hijack each and every plan of this Government. If the government will give in so easily then better now try it..
Morons.
This is most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. According to several research center even in the middle east segregated schools are not doing well. For the first time in Sausi King Faisal university they have allowed boys and girls to study together and the results are too good to believe. These guys are no different from the Taliban. The only success in Maldives is because we decided to teach our women. We have hundreds of educated women in our country and with Adhaalath they must remain at home. For God sake stop this nonsense.
Tell you what, keep your women at home, please leave us alone!!!!
Interesting that Adhaalath party suddenly turns to the West and cites an evangelist (Jews loving Christian). but this is not the point
My children went to an international school in Sri Lanka for 8 years and the results are fantastic. A school depends solely on its management and faculty and a good approach to education. Sri Lankan International schools are mixed, and well reputed and the school graduation results excellent. Any Maldivian parent who can afford it, is sending the children there.
In these schools there are no testosterone or any other sexual hormones going haywire...
Where's the proof of this epic system failure?
Bilal Philips (Sponsored to talk by the same government ministry) came to the Maldives and said it was A-OK to marry a girl as soon as they reach puberty.
I guess being forced into marriage is less "stressful".
What about the stress caused when you're in school by some of the utter crap teachers?
Islam teacher we had in Majeediyya told us we should take pride in the "killing of infidels" and the one I had in CHSE separates people anyways, Mr. Soud just moved all the girls to back to the class. He said that was where women belonged, behind men.
I suppose all of that is "consistent" with the culture then too? What about Maldivian culture?
@Jameela:
“This is most ridiculous thing I have ever heard”
No it's not, it is established fact. Read below:
• The National Foundation for Educational Research in England was commissioned in July 2002 to study the effect of school size and school type (single-sex vs. coed) on academic performance. The Foundation studied 2,954 high schools throughout England, where single-sex public high schools are widely available. They released their report on July 8 2002. One of their major findings was that even after controlling for students' academic ability and other background factors, both girls and boys did significantly better in single-sex schools than in coed schools.
• A large Australian study in 2000 by the Australian Council for Educational Research compared performance of students at single-sex and coeducational schools.. Their analysis, based on six years of study of over 270,000 students, in 53 academic subjects, demonstrated that both boys and girls who were educated in single-sex classrooms scored on average 15 to 22 percentile ranks higher than did boys and girls in coeducational settings. The report also documented that "boys and girls in single-sex schools were more likely to be better behaved and to find learning more enjoyable and the curriculum more relevant."
• Researchers at Manchester University in England tested the single sex approach in 2001. They assigned students at five public schools either to single-sex or to coed classrooms. 68 percent of boys who were assigned to single-sex classes subsequently passed a standardized test of language skills, vs. 33 percent of boys assigned to coed classes. Among the girls, 89 percent assigned to single-sex classes passed the test, vs. 48 percent of girls assigned to coed classes.
• Similar findings were reported by researchers at Cambridge University, who examined the effects of single-sex classrooms in schools in four different neighborhoods, including rural, suburban and inner-city schools. They found that "using single-sex groups was a significant factor in establishing a school culture that would raise educational achievement." For example, at Morley High School in Leeds, only one-third of boys had been earning passing grades in German and French prior to institution of the program. After the change to single-sex classes, 100% of boys earned passing grades. The story appeared in the Sunday Telegraph on March 30, 2003.
@Hani:
“Where’s the proof of this epic system failure?”
I think I have mentioned some above. If you would like to read more here’s a good place to start: http://www.singlesexschools.org/research-singlesexvscoed.htm
“accelerate puberty in students and increase the testosterone levels of boys by 20 percent.”
- Isn't this what Abdul majeed and all those big beards associated with him wants?? So they can marry under age girls.
“As a result, boys spend their time in a state of heightened sexual turmoil,”
- they want the girls to have early puberty, not the boys.
It is not compatible with the 'culture' that adhaalarh want to implement on us!
I will not comment on the relationship between good results and co-ed, however; in mixed schools, students of the two genders will learn to respect each other.
In our single-sex school, girls are view among the majority of the students as sex-objects!
Confusing... confusing... confusing...
AFAIK: (Pls do correct me if I'm wrong)
1. Secondary classes are going to stay as it had been. No gender mixing has been proposed.
2. Primary schools had been mixed, for as long as I can remember.
If Adaalath has a problem of gender mixing in Primary they should have brought it up long time ago, not now. The new policy has nothing to do with gender mixing - whatsoever. This is what I gathered from Deputy Minister's words above.
So what's all this talk about gender mixing and all? What is this propaganda against the Education Ministry? Is Adaalath confused or am I? Enlighten me pls.
So why is the great adhaalath party promoting the homosexualization - and destruction of the Maldivian people?
Co-educational teaching methods are not against Islam. Equality, co-existence, and the sharing is among the foundation of our religion. By separating boys and girls, you handicap them for their lives ahead, unless of course you are preparing them for a life where segregation of the genders is the norm. Where sexual tension actually raises and becomes an even more ingrained part of our society. These people are ridiculous and determined to keep us in the dark ages.
Unacceptable. And what is even worse is the Education Ministry's continual withdrawal from polices that would help thousands of students. Its cowardice. Its all just unacceptable.
I don't think it's the students who's got sex on their minds.
Why do we need to pick an extreme view? Why not have both Co-eds and separate schools? If I have a point of view with my mind made up, I can provide selective research and cite sources but that doesn't make make my opinion better. The Flat Earth Society also have carried out studies which "prove" they are right.
Taking an opinion an stretching it to its logical extreme is dangerous, we already suffer enough with the bigotry we have. Why make it worse?
I am sure there are findings that go either way - for co-ed and for single sex schools. both will have their own individual set of pros and as well as cons.
Having said that, i am not concerned about what Adhaalath says or what research shows either way.
Majeedhiya and Ameeniya are long standing institutions that has a legacy and history in the Maldives as single sex schools.
For e.g. Majeediya is Maldive's parallel to Eton college in England or St.Peters in Sri Lanka.
I would be concerned if these two institutional schools were to be changed to co-ed. I say we continue them as single schools without changing it to co-ed but go ahead with changing the rest or other new schools to the co-ed system.
Then, traditionalists will have a chance to send their kids to a single sex school,
if MoE does not offer single sex schools, worse can happen - it can give rise to a market for strict islamic schools by the religiously extreme fundamentalists.
I'm a MD. All my scholastic life was in "coeducational" classes. Nearly all of my schoolmates are now postgraduated in university. I think that these Sirs who are against coeducation are only a bunch of fools.
The current system works fine. Improving the educational standards is what should be focused on.
If only Adhaalath "sheikhs" could stop thinking of sex when they picture little children in coeducation schools..
It's always entertaining to see our mullahs attempt to justify their utter backwardness with "science".
Here's a little fact I'd like them to dispute.
Over 90% of the worlds BEST researchers, scientists and academics (oh, and achievers in any field, actually) are from the West.
And I'm willing to bet that ALL of them emerged from perfectly normal co-education schools and universities.
Having personally survived school and university, I can assure our almighty mullahs that I turned out just fine - neither sexually depraved, nor depressed or gasping for breath.
Perhaps this kind of thinking could be permanently erased by having some co-educational madrassas in Pakistan or the Middle East... that's where these people emerge from, right?
I notice that the Adhaalath party office has only ONE very narrow entrance, and no windows to speak of... perhaps THIS is a scientific explanation why there aren't any womenkind in their party leadership?
@driving force - too right!
As a scientist, I would be more likely to attribute the early puberty we are seeing in children these days to increased environmental hormones (plastic water bottles anyone? chocabloc with hormones. Frozen chicken? same thing.) and the fact that todays children are on average fatter than previous generations. More fat leads to more hormone synthesis.
Also, if you are going to cite facts and use them to support a hypothesis (I'm looking at you Adhaalath party), at least put in some peer reviewed and rigorous scientific research - don't cite a right wing darling of the Catholic church. It really doesn't help support your case.
To the Adhaalath party - why do you even bother to pretend to care about having a rational argument? Why not succumb to your true nature, overthrow the government and convert the Maldives into your own little version of (Arab) Heaven?
I'll be lolling at you.
There shall be a choice for parents who want to send their children to segregated schools. Why is the secular camp so intolerant on this issue? All the while lamenting that the adhaalath to be intolerant?
here is a link to a summary page of research on this issue by US dept of Education..
http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/other/single-sex/edlite-single-sex-table.html
You mean girls are even allowed to have an education? This political party is very progressive.
So music is Haraam and boys and girls should not be mixed even inside a class room.
Then you blame the internet for giving Islam a bad name?
@peasant
“If I have a point of view with my mind made up, I can provide selective research and cite sources but that doesn’t make make my opinion better. The Flat Earth Society also have carried out studies which “prove” they are right.”
Research commissioned by government bodies in several countries throughout the world including UK, USA and Australia, some even conducted by CRITICS of the single-sex education system have time and time again concluded that single-sex education is far superior to co-ed. The research considers, among several parameters, the actual performance records of students. These are not mere “opinions”.
Furthermore, the benefits of single-sex schools are not only academic; it has also been shown to broaden students' horizons, to allow them to feel free to explore the own strengths and interests, not constrained by gender stereotypes, allowing them to become more well-rounded people. Researchers at the University of Michigan compared graduates of single-sex high schools with graduates of coeducational schools. Boys in the single-sex high schools scored better in reading, writing, and math than did boys at coed high schools. Girls at the single-sex schools did better in science and reading than girls in coed schools. In fact, these researchers found that students at single-sex schools had not only superior academic achievement, but also had higher educational aspirations, more confidence in their abilities, and a more positive attitude toward academics, than did students at coed high schools. And, girls at the single-sex schools had less stereotyped ideas about what women can and cannot do.
@lolwut
“if you are going to cite facts and use them to support a hypothesis …. at least put in some peer reviewed and rigorous scientific research”
I have cited some in my above post. You can read more about this at:
http://www.singlesexschools.org/research-singlesexvscoed.htm
The experience of schools undertaking the transformation from co-ed to single-sex has been so consistent, and so impressive, that the British Secretary of Education (then David Blunkett) asked the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) to consider applying this model widely throughout Britain, in a wholesale conversion of coed schools to single-sex academies.
@Zayan
”I will not comment on the relationship between good results and co-ed, however; in mixed schools, students of the two genders will learn to respect each other”
Complete hogwash. The game of who’s macho, who’s sexy, who likes who, who's going out with who, who's cool and who's not, is what's really important at most coed schools.
Why stop at calling for segregation in education? Why not go the whole nine yards and demand segregation of sex at home (wait, they already do that), on the roads, at office, etc. Ofcourse, I am assuming that Adhalath don't mind women actually working to earn money to feed their family. Presumably their husbands would be busy racking up points for the next life by praying, eating, and sleeping at the mosque to do something so trivial as to work for a living...
@Ali on Tue, 5th Oct 2010 6:34 AM:
I laughed at your comment, but then realized that sadly some Maldivian parents have now "progressed" so far as to take pride in NOT educating their daughters and NOT vaccinating them. If this is allowed to go on, just imagine the consequences when the critical ratio is reached...
To the poster known as Seahorse. Being British myself I can tell you that you are blindly following the statistics without knowing anything about the cultural background behind them.
Single sex schools are always private instituations that have wider budgets and are more selective of their intake. But like a lot of things in this coutnry, why let free thought and careful consideration get in the way of a nice bit of bigotry.
This does not mean that single sex schools are necisarily a better system of education, but simply more selective in ther policy. You need to learn that statistics mean nothing without knowledge behind it.
The reason we're pissed off at Adhaalath is because of all the things they try to sneak in ALONG with this.
This transcends which education system is apparently better. To quote the article
"“Not only are the boys and girls at Ahmadiyya being taught in separate classrooms – even the entrances used by the two sexes are separate,” Adhaalath said. "
Will they push for separate sex entrances in offices next?
Jeez. Get a clue people. As if no one knows what the perfect Adhaalath designed Maldives would look like.
You really think "modesty" is the ONLY thing forced upon a woman?
Think outside the box.
Adhaalath certainly is. They way they've maneuvered themselves into power while still massively failing the elections is amazing. Religion is an amazing tool.
Most of all I think Adhaalath is afraid of young people talking to each other. Afraid that people will find out that everyone else is generally quite nice. Afraid that girls and boys are going to start believing you don't actually need a gigantic beard or a ninja suit to live a decent life or to have faith.
We already passed puberty in 6th grade when we were coed!!! What is this bullshi*?
They allow 6 year olds to marry!! But they don't allow them to study!! What hypocrisy is this??
This whole 'Adhaalath' phenomena is due to the former regime's blatant abuse of the educational system. They created segregated Arabic schools where most of these extremists emerged from.
And, yes, today they're fighting for the same separatist Arabic schools as well. There's no place for separation of ANY kind in this small place.
I don't see Adhaalath fighting to save kids from drugs and their evil effects on society. Bloody hypocrites.
Adhaalath wants girls to get educated? OMG this IS news!
Adaalath party can go soak their head...
Really? next thing you know these Islamic mullahs would probably say that even nursery kids should not be also in mixed classes (after all as far as the mullahs are concerned kids are good enough for marriage)!!
This country should be saved from the likes of these mullahs!!!
I do not like making personal remarks but you give me no choice. Being British does not necessarily make your comments any more valuable or correct unless you back up what you say with sources and references. If anything it proves that you are ignorant of the studies conducted on the subject not just across the world, but even in Britain itself.
The researches mentioned in my posts are scientific research, with appropriate control groups, to ensure that the data collected are relevant and valid. I hope you understand the difference between a scientific study and a mere collection of some stats.
Studies have also been conducted specifically addressing those variables that you have cited (could the success of single-sex schools be attributed to having a wider budget, selective in their intake, teaching methods, teaching quality)? For this "Before and after" studies are done at just one school, before and after its transformation to a single-sex school. Same students, same teachers, same facilities. These studies offered another compelling proof of the superiority of single-sex education. Further, in 1998, the British Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) tested whether socioeconomic variables might account for the superior performance of students in single-sex schools. They examined test results from 800 public schools, single-sex and coeducational. OFSTED found that the superior performance of students in single-sex schools cannot be accounted for by socioeconomic factors, but appears instead to be a direct result of single-sex education. They also found that students in single-sex schools have a significantly more positive attitude toward learning.
Now, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the "before and after" experience of schools undertaking this transformation has been so consistent, and so impressive, that the British Secretary of Education (then David Blunkett) asked the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) to consider implementing this model widely throughout Britain, in a wholesale conversion of coed schools to single-sex academies. And in 2004 David Miliband, who was schools minister at the time, backed the idea of single-sex classes. Now you may ask why then there has not been a serious effort to implement the transformation, but that's entirely a different story.
[Source: Nicholas Pyke, "Blunkett plans single-sex classrooms." The Independent (London), August 20, 2000, p. 8.];
[Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/4591653.stm]
[Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8027837/Boys-held-back-in-mixed-schools-says-head.html]
[Source: http://www.singlesexschools.org/research-singlesexvscoed.htm]
My previous post is a response to Nelly Nelson
First they will segregate the girls into girls only schools. Then they will choke the funding for the Girls only schools. And then you have it.
Hani saying something without having proper knowledge is wrong! The beard and the ninja dress is not orders of Adhaalath or Salaf. Its the order of Allah (SWA).You dont have the least knowledge about Islam to quote about this. If you dont know atleast have the guts to check before you say something. When you say something llke this ,remember it goes to everyone.
I chose to send my daughter to a single sex school because she wanted to go to a single sex school, even though she spent her entire early childhood education, primary education and middle school education in co-education. Research that girls succeed better at University and adjust better and faster at the workplace if they have co- education secondary education as they spent less time going crazy over the boys and partying in the 1st year at University where most students drop out, was a strong pull for me to put my daughter in a co education secondary school . However, the reasearch that is also out about boys being emotionally atleast two years younger than girls in early adolescence and the frustration that girls have in class with "emotionally immature" boys mucking around in class was an equally strong pull. At the end of the day the decision for her to attend a single ex school was a family decision based on our family values and what is important to us, especially my daughter.
The merits of single sex schooling and coeducation schooling is a debate that we should make transparent to our community and allow debate. A lot of research is around to support both schools of thinking. I believe parents should have the right and the opportunity to choose what they would like for their children. By making all government schools co-education the government is taking that choice away from them.
I do not agree with the Adhalath psrty that co education is inconsistent with Islam. Islam teaches us how to live in peace harmony with all people. Living with both men and women. Our children spend most of their awake hours in school, and in school related activities. What better training ground for our boys and girls to learn and live by the values of their community?
I find the whole concept of segregation of men and women anti Islam. We have people in the Adhalath party, in political parties and some NGOs who appear to have missed the teachings of Allah and Prophet Mohamed Sallah Allaihi Wassalam. Segregation came from cultural realities of some societies, not from the teachings of Islam.
@ those who mock the bearded men and veiled women who try to abide by the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam), I quote Aisha (RaliAllahu Anhaa)who said:
“Those who belittle and mock His servants do not know Allah. Those who love the Creator also love those formed by His artistry.”
However, I’d like to advise some brothers and sisters who try to maintain the Islamic attire to also try to maintain proper hygiene since cleanliness part of being a good muslim. While people generally consider cleanliness a desirable attribute, Islam insists on it , making it an indispensible fundamental of the faith. A muslim is required to to be pure morally and spiritually as well as physically. Through the Qur'an and Sunnah Islam requires the sincere believer to sanitize and purify his entire way of life. In the Qur'an Allah says:
"Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean." (2: 22)
It gives great pleasure to see so many men and women nowadays trying to abide by the correct rules of islam.
“You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men, you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah.”( 3:110)
My dear Seashore...thank u so much for yr precious and obligatory efforts to wake up the sleeping society...let me tell u...here these guys will recognize such an issue as a problem until the whole country is addicted to that crime...see murder cases, drug addicts, started slowly and only now these fools start saying these are issues...May Allah guide u Seashore..pls keep up the good work
don't fuss too much. Rules should back single sex as well as mixed education. But most of educational institutions are coed except religiously backed institutions. These coed institution has performed well so far and produced valuable people. But i also believe single sex education can also produce same results. It depends on teachers, facilities etc.
i have studied my secondary education in single sex school. The school system is organized the best and experienced teachers were send the best performed classes. The rest got inexperienced.
As mentioned, coed education leads to early puberty and heighten sexual turmoil. All bullshit. You cant take sexual desire from teenage boy or girl and cant delay the puberty. You cant stop natural causes. There are other ways socialize and find mate.
if adhaalath want teach Arabic, Islam, sun'nah or Islamic history, make the subject. those who are interested in learning will join it and can conduct crash courses.