Coeducation versus Single-Sex Education in Spain: Does the Election between These Models Have a Repercussion on the Transmission of the Democratic Value of Gender Equality at School?

Abstract

This study aims to address, from a legal-constitutional and gender perspective, a political and scholarly legal debate that is currently at the forefront in Spain concerning two opposing educational models: coeducation versus single-sex education. It will be explained the terms of the debate now concerning single-sex education in Spain, related more to the recruitment stage than to a different pedagogical model or curriculum to be given. While this debate has been wide spread in the Anglo-American context, it has nevertheless not been developed extensively in the Spanish legal scholarly literature nor in the political sphere. Even so, as will be shown, some relevant studies have been undertaken regarding the issue of defending one or the other model and adopting a certain position with regard to the suitability or not of supporting single-sex schools with public funds. In this paper it will be examined who defends or rejects single-sex or coeducation in the legal scholarship and political debate and on what grounds. The main question I will attempt to answer in these pages is the following: does the election between these models in Spain have a repercussion on the transmission and achievement of constitutional/democratic values, such as the real and effective equality between men and women?