IUIU’s single sex campus: Will it give girls a better deal?
IT is the latest discussion in the education circles. Should girls and boys be educated separately at university level? Plans by Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) to start an only-girls campus brings the university gender war into perspective.
By Arthur Baguma
IT is the latest discussion in the education circles. Should girls and boys be educated separately at university level? Plans by Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) to start an only-girls campus brings the university gender war into perspective.
It is usual to hear of a single-sex school at primary and secondary school levels. And some of the single-sex schools are also among the best performing schools in the country. The first generations of educated women in Uganda were products of single-sex secondary schools.
But what about a single-sex university? Some education experts argue that it is one way to impart discipline, while others argue that separation of females from males at university level makes little difference in determining the quality of education.
Fagil Mandy, an education consultant, argues that single-sex schools promote discipline.
He adds that even at university level, having an only-girls campus should not be castigated. IUIU will, in August this year, open an all-girls campus at Kabojja. The campus will start with 650 females of all religious denominations. It will be the first girls’ campus in Uganda.
Critics view this move as an approach largely driven by Islamic values and perception towards women. But the university administration says the aim of the establishment is to increase access of university education to women.
“The purpose of starting the girls’ campus is a strategy to empower women,†Muhamed Mpezamihigo, the university vice-rector said.
Several studies have been conducted to ascertain the assumption that children do better in single-sex schools.
The National Association for Single Sex Public Education based in the United States released a book on the subject. The subject has been fiercely debated in the US, and other books on the issue have all concluded the same thing — separate the girls and the boys.
According to the officials of the university, the only females’ campus was hatched after successful case studies indicated that in other parts of the world, girls-only colleges and universities have been very successful.
Some critics of the single-sex mode of education argue that IUIU is masking behind the pretext of women empowerment to promote Islamic values.
For instance, the girls are expected to wear veils at campus whether Muslim or not. But the university says that this concern should not arise as this is not new in the history of the university.
At the Mbale main campus, all girls have been putting on veils since the university opened its doors. “This has been the case in the last 20 years at IUIU and it won’t be any different. Some Christian students continue putting on the veil even long after graduation,†Mpezamihigo noted.
The Islamic faith strongly discourages the idea of males mixing with females. But the university denied that the policy is a plot to divide females and males from mixing and socialising.
The education ministry spokesperson, Aggrey Kibenge, says the law that governs the establishment of universities does not cite any clause that bars IUIU from establishing an only-girls campus.
He adds that several reasons might have driven IUIU to start a girls’ campus.
He says the reasons could be related to empowerment of women and also matters of religion since IUIU is an Islam-based institution. The campus has been designed with facilities specifically to cater for girls.
“In universities which are mixed, females tend to be sidelined so this could be looked at as an issue of empowerment,†Kibenge says.
Fagil Mandy echoes Kibenge’s view. He argues that since IUIU is a Muslim-founded university, they have their way of looking at women. “They protect women,†Mandy says.
He says IUIU is one of the universities with the highest levels of discipline in this country.
“They have a long culture of discipline. If in the line of preserving that discipline they have followed that line, then to me, it is ok.â€
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By Jamesa Wagwau
The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) made a mark on Uganda’s education scene when it announced plans to open a campus for women only. The campus will be the only one of its kind in Uganda.
Single-sex schools have had their share of blame, with some critics describing them as ‘deficient in social exposure.’ Proponents, on the other hand, cite improvement in performance as students focus only on studies and not the opposite sex.
In university social setting, however, teaching is carried out differently since the students are being prepared for the world of work. How does a females-only environment affect the students socially in the world of work?
Experts in sociology of education have divergent views on how a females-only campus might affect the graduates.
Elizabeth Opit, a lecturer in Sociology of Education at Kyambogo University, says it might limit the graduates.
“University education should expose students to the opposite sex because there are certain traits men have that ladies lack. Men are more comprehensive and illustrative in expression and ladies need to learn these traits,†says Opit. She adds that education at university is more by consultation and sharing of knowledge than at lower levels where learning is more individualised.
“Tolerance of opinion and objectivity is better practiced by men than women. A single-sex setting would limit the ladies and deprive them of the opportunity to acquire these essential traits,†she explains.
Sarah Hayuni, a lecturer in Foundations of Education at Bugema University, says Muslim students are used to this set up and have no problem with it. Hayuni notes that university, just like other schools is both an agent and setting for socialisation. It is an educational setting that moulds the individuals both socially and psychologically to fit in the world of work. “Students from a single-sex university might face challenges interacting with the opposite sex,†Hayuni explains.
Dr Mohammed Mpezamihigo, the vice-rector in charge of academic affairs at IUIU, says the sociologists may be right in their argument but it is an option left to parents.
“There are a number of females-only universities in the world that have produced excellent graduates. In spite of the reasons one can give against the idea, there are many parents who strongly prefer this set up,†says Mpezamihigo.
“There are certain things that ladies cannot do in the presence of men. The females-only university enables ladies to exploit their potentials than they would in a mixed environment.â€
Godfrey Bakaira, a lecturer in the department of Teacher Education and Development Studies, Kyambogo University says: “What is important is the quality of education not the social setting. It doesn’t affect them in the world of work as long as their rights are respected,†says Bakaira. He emphasises the need for such students to be taught by both sexes. He says a single-sex university should also be engaged in programmes with other universities, both off and on campus.
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Write your views to the Education editor, P.O.Box 9815, Kampala or email: education@newvision.co.ug
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IT is the latest discussion in the education circles. Should girls and boys be educated separately at university level? Plans by Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) to start an only-girls campus brings the university gender war into perspective.
It is usual to hear of a single-sex school at primary and secondary school levels. And some of the single-sex schools are also among the best performing schools in the country. The first generations of educated women in Uganda were products of single-sex secondary schools.
But what about a single-sex university? Some education experts argue that it is one way to impart discipline, while others argue that separation of females from males at university level makes little difference in determining the quality of education.
Fagil Mandy, an education consultant, argues that single-sex schools promote discipline.
He adds that even at university level, having an only-girls campus should not be castigated. IUIU will, in August this year, open an all-girls campus at Kabojja. The campus will start with 650 females of all religious denominations. It will be the first girls’ campus in Uganda.
Critics view this move as an approach largely driven by Islamic values and perception towards women. But the university administration says the aim of the establishment is to increase access of university education to women.
“The purpose of starting the girls’ campus is a strategy to empower women,†Muhamed Mpezamihigo, the university vice-rector said.
Several studies have been conducted to ascertain the assumption that children do better in single-sex schools.
The National Association for Single Sex Public Education based in the United States released a book on the subject. The subject has been fiercely debated in the US, and other books on the issue have all concluded the same thing — separate the girls and the boys.
According to the officials of the university, the only females’ campus was hatched after successful case studies indicated that in other parts of the world, girls-only colleges and universities have been very successful.
Some critics of the single-sex mode of education argue that IUIU is masking behind the pretext of women empowerment to promote Islamic values.
For instance, the girls are expected to wear veils at campus whether Muslim or not. But the university says that this concern should not arise as this is not new in the history of the university.
At the Mbale main campus, all girls have been putting on veils since the university opened its doors. “This has been the case in the last 20 years at IUIU and it won’t be any different. Some Christian students continue putting on the veil even long after graduation,†Mpezamihigo noted.
The Islamic faith strongly discourages the idea of males mixing with females. But the university denied that the policy is a plot to divide females and males from mixing and socialising.
The education ministry spokesperson, Aggrey Kibenge, says the law that governs the establishment of universities does not cite any clause that bars IUIU from establishing an only-girls campus.
He adds that several reasons might have driven IUIU to start a girls’ campus.
He says the reasons could be related to empowerment of women and also matters of religion since IUIU is an Islam-based institution. The campus has been designed with facilities specifically to cater for girls.
“In universities which are mixed, females tend to be sidelined so this could be looked at as an issue of empowerment,†Kibenge says.
Fagil Mandy echoes Kibenge’s view. He argues that since IUIU is a Muslim-founded university, they have their way of looking at women. “They protect women,†Mandy says.
He says IUIU is one of the universities with the highest levels of discipline in this country.
“They have a long culture of discipline. If in the line of preserving that discipline they have followed that line, then to me, it is ok.â€
==================================
By Jamesa Wagwau
The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) made a mark on Uganda’s education scene when it announced plans to open a campus for women only. The campus will be the only one of its kind in Uganda.
Single-sex schools have had their share of blame, with some critics describing them as ‘deficient in social exposure.’ Proponents, on the other hand, cite improvement in performance as students focus only on studies and not the opposite sex.
In university social setting, however, teaching is carried out differently since the students are being prepared for the world of work. How does a females-only environment affect the students socially in the world of work?
Experts in sociology of education have divergent views on how a females-only campus might affect the graduates.
Elizabeth Opit, a lecturer in Sociology of Education at Kyambogo University, says it might limit the graduates.
“University education should expose students to the opposite sex because there are certain traits men have that ladies lack. Men are more comprehensive and illustrative in expression and ladies need to learn these traits,†says Opit. She adds that education at university is more by consultation and sharing of knowledge than at lower levels where learning is more individualised.
“Tolerance of opinion and objectivity is better practiced by men than women. A single-sex setting would limit the ladies and deprive them of the opportunity to acquire these essential traits,†she explains.
Sarah Hayuni, a lecturer in Foundations of Education at Bugema University, says Muslim students are used to this set up and have no problem with it. Hayuni notes that university, just like other schools is both an agent and setting for socialisation. It is an educational setting that moulds the individuals both socially and psychologically to fit in the world of work. “Students from a single-sex university might face challenges interacting with the opposite sex,†Hayuni explains.
Dr Mohammed Mpezamihigo, the vice-rector in charge of academic affairs at IUIU, says the sociologists may be right in their argument but it is an option left to parents.
“There are a number of females-only universities in the world that have produced excellent graduates. In spite of the reasons one can give against the idea, there are many parents who strongly prefer this set up,†says Mpezamihigo.
“There are certain things that ladies cannot do in the presence of men. The females-only university enables ladies to exploit their potentials than they would in a mixed environment.â€
Godfrey Bakaira, a lecturer in the department of Teacher Education and Development Studies, Kyambogo University says: “What is important is the quality of education not the social setting. It doesn’t affect them in the world of work as long as their rights are respected,†says Bakaira. He emphasises the need for such students to be taught by both sexes. He says a single-sex university should also be engaged in programmes with other universities, both off and on campus.
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Write your views to the Education editor, P.O.Box 9815, Kampala or email: education@newvision.co.ug
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