Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies: Home

Abstract:
This paper investigates a sample of Saudi Arabian students' opinions about the effects of mixed-gender education on their academic experiences in the West. Although co-education is still illegal in Saudi Arabia's schools and universities, there is an intense cultural debate in Saudi society on the topic. This study used a quantitative method with a 16-item Likert-type scale, and two open-ended questions. One hundred and ten Saudi students (29 females) who were attending mixed-gender universities in the West participated in the survey. The duration of their study ranged from less than 3months to over 1 year. The findings of the survey show marked differences in views held by males and females. Experiencing co-education firsthand confirmed the conviction of a majority of Saudi students, both males and females, that a single-sex setting is preferred to a mixed-gender one. Saudi females were in general more receptive than males to mixed-gender education.

Keywords: co-education, gender, co-educational conditions, preconceptions, classroom conditions

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