Doon School drops co-ed idea after alumni red flag

DEHRADUN: A memo meant for trustees at The Doon School has stirred up a hornet's nest, prompting the school management to clarify that there has been no decision at all on the venerated boys-only institute turning co-ed.

A message sent by headmaster Dr Jagpreet Singh on March 17 to members of the Indian Public Schools' Society - the school's governing body - included a four-page document outlining the logic for exploring a co-ed model.

However, alumni expressed their concern over a shift to a co-ed system and its likely impact on the cultural DNA of the institute founded in 1935. To allay the worries, the school management issued a note saying that "no decision has been taken regarding the school becoming co-ed".


What was meant to be an internal discussion about a potential shift to co-education, quickly snowballed into a public controversy, prompting school authorities to clarify that the message sent by headmaster Jagpreet Singh on March 17 to the school's governing body was not a declaration, but an invitation to deliberate, reconsider, and reimagine what the future of the school might look like.

Accompanying the headmaster's memo was a four-page document, outlining the rationale for exploring a co-ed model. Citing research that challenged the academic benefits of same-sex education, the memo acknowledged a changing educational landscape and called for feedback to help navigate a possible transition.

"Over the years, many schools have made the transition to co-education," the document noted. "Researchers claim that there is no significance of same-sex education on academic performance."

However, even before a dialogue could take shape, the memo had moved beyond its intended audience. Alumni, many of whom see The Doon School as not just as a place, but as a part of personal identity, responded with unease. Sensing this disquiet, the school management issued a follow-up communication on April 7 from Anoop Singh Bishnoi, chairman of the board of governors, to IPSS members, most of whom are alumni.

"The document and communication in question were intended solely as a discussion note, shared internally with members of IPSS," Bishnoi wrote. "The purpose was simply to initiate preliminary thought, invite inputs for discussion and dialogue among the members." Offering reassurance, he added: "I want to personally assure you that no decision has been taken regarding the school becoming co-ed. Further, having received your valuable feedback, we will not be taking any decisions in this regard unless it finds favour with most of you."

While the idea of admitting girls has surfaced in conversations around the school for years, there has never been a public plan or timeline - only murmurs and conjectures.

The document also raised questions: how to build infrastructure to accommodate female students, how to ensure their safety and wellness, and how to fund these changes.