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Controversy Arises Over Co-Education Decision at Historic Kozhikode School
Move to convert one of the oldest boys’ schools kicks up a row
Image: The Hindu
The Education department's decision to admit girls to St. Joseph’s Boys’ Higher Secondary School in Kozhikode has sparked debate. While school management supports the move as part of a co-education policy, former students argue it undermines the school's historical significance and reduces educational opportunities for boys.
- 01St. Joseph’s Boys’ Higher Secondary School, established in 1793, will begin admitting girls to Plus One classes this academic year.
- 02The school's management claims the decision aligns with government co-education policies and was made in response to parental demands.
- 03Former students argue that the change threatens the school's historical identity and diminishes educational opportunities for boys.
- 04The management has prepared infrastructure, including restrooms, to accommodate female students starting from the 2026-27 academic year.
- 05Alumni associations emphasize the availability of numerous girls' schools in Kozhikode, contrasting the limited options for boys.
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The Education department's recent decision to allow girls into St. Joseph’s Boys’ Higher Secondary School in Kozhikode has ignited controversy among former students and the school management. Founded in 1793, the school plans to start admitting girls into Plus One classes this academic year, with a phased introduction into Class V from 2026-27. The school manager, Fr. Pious Vachaparambil, stated that this initiative aligns with the government's co-education policy and responds to demands from parents and students. However, former students, represented by the '1994 alumni association', argue that this move compromises the school's historical status as one of the oldest boys' institutions in the state. They express concern that it could limit educational opportunities for boys, especially given the presence of numerous girls' schools in the city. The management, meanwhile, has assured that infrastructure improvements have been made to facilitate the transition, although critics question the lack of gender sensitization measures in the school's planning.
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The decision to admit girls may reshape the educational landscape in Kozhikode, affecting enrollment dynamics in existing boys' schools.
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