Recently, Kyoto’s Notre Dame Jogakuin announced that its elementary, junior, and senior high schools will be transferred to Rakusei Academy, a prestigious boys’ school in Kyoto. While some expect this to raise academic levels, the outcome remains uncertain. Rakusei has stated it will remain single-sex, and Notre Dame Women’s University is already set to close. In Hyogo, Mukogawa Women’s University’s decision to go coeducational shocked many, as did similar announcements from Shoin and Kobe Yamate Girls’ Schools.

However, coeducation does not necessarily guarantee success. Some schools that switched to coed have seen drastic enrollment drops. The decline in girls’ schools mainly stems from Japan’s falling birthrate, yet data suggest that girls’ schools offer unique academic and developmental benefits that deserve renewed attention.

Historically, girls’ education in Japan began with missionary-founded institutions during the Meiji era, evolving through the 1899 Girls’ High School Order. By 1940, nearly 1,000 girls’ schools existed, symbolized by the “Ebishashiki-bu” (brown hakama culture). After WWII, coeducation expanded, and the number of girls’ schools dropped to around 290 by the 2020s — just 5.9% of all schools.

Yet gender-sensitive education — awareness of how gender influences learning and outcomes — is gaining importance. Rather than debating “coed vs. single-sex,” the focus should be on creating learning environments that respect gender diversity.

Research highlights multiple advantages of girls’ schools:

• STEM Achievement: Studies by Lee & Bryk (1986) and Hughes (2006) show higher participation and confidence in science classes.
• Leadership Development: Girls take all leadership roles, cultivating initiative and communication.
• Focus & Discipline: Fewer distractions enhance academic concentration and attendance.
• Freedom from Gender Roles: Students freely explore technical, artistic, and leadership fields.

In summary, the benefits of girls’ schools fall into four categories — academic, emotional, behavioral, and social. These schools nurture confident, capable women who engage fully in their learning. Perhaps, the growth of women in STEM fields in Japan owes more to girls’ education than we realize.

Answer to today’s quiz: It’s STEM.

Warm regards,
TobiraAI