the Monster 696 isn't hugely powerful, so it would be possible to learn on that bike, but there are definitely better choices.
The main reason I couldn't recommend it is that Ducatis are pretty hard expensive compared to traditional "starter" bikes.
buy an old ninja 250, ride it for a year, and then sell it for the same amount you paid. If you never drop it, then good for you. If you drop it 4 or 5 times, then you scratched it up instead of the Ducati you buy next.