THE EDITOR, Sir:

We congratulate you on your article titled 'Separate the boys' published on the front page of The Gleaner of the March 3. For the record, the concept of the same-gender classes in co-educational institutions, we contend, had its genesis at St Catherine High School, where in 1999 two separate classes for each gender were established.

Special days bring results

Prior to this initiative, due to the laid-back attitude and late development and maturity of a large percentage of the male population, the school initiated a special Boys' Day, where only male students attended school. A special programme, including motivational speakers, was arranged for the day. This was very successful and naturally led to the introduction of a Girls' Day with a similar format.

The two events are now permanently on the school's annual calendar of events. The male students in the same-gender classes, in particular, have not only demonstrated early development and maturity, but have found these classes to be more competitive and less distractive, resulting in much better examination results at all grades including the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate level.

These initiatives received national and international acclaim, notably a visit to the school by columnist and British Member of Parliament Dianne Abbott, who sought to have a close observation of the programmes as they were experiencing a similar situation with male students in certain parts of the United Kingdom, where we believe the concept was sub-sequently introduced.

We are reliably informed that many co-educational schools at both the national and regional levels, in the primary and secondary schools, have now adopted the Boys' Day/Girls' Day and same-gender concept with much success.

We are pleased to have been the integral part of these initiatives.

I am, etc.,

LASCELLES A. WILLIAMS

Chairman

Board of Governors

St Catherine High School