Co-education

Introduction:

Co-education  means educating boys and girls in the same institution. It is a modern concept. It was first introduced in Switzerland but later on it became very popular in every country. It was adopted by other countries of the West like Germany, France, Canada, Russia and America. In the Eastern countries, this concept of co-education is making headway slowly. In Pakistan, it is popular only in vocational institutions.

Two types of thoghts about co-education:

Their exists two schools of thought who differ sharply in their views about co-education. One group of people favors co-education. It includes the people who are educated in the western traditions. They put forward the following points:

People that are in favour of co-education:

People that are in favour of co-education will say put forward following points:

Firstly:

Firstly,they say that we should adopt co-education in our schools and colleges because our country is poor and undeveloped. We cannot open separate schools and colleges separately both for girls and boys. This difficulty becomes very great in case of vocational and technical institutions. It is very difficult for government to open separate vocational for both boys and girls and equip them with necessary scientific apparatus and library.

Secondly:

Second, there is a great dearth of skilled teachers on technical subjects. That is why; it is desirable to educate the boys and girls in the same institution.

Thirdly:

Third, there is another advantage of co-education. The boys and girls have to play an important part in their practical life in the national progress of their country. They begin to have an understanding of each other at college level. Co-education also produces in both the sexes a healthy competition in their studies. The boys also become more civilized and polished in the presence of girls. They try to approach the girl like sensible and civilized human beings. The girl also stands to gain something in the presence of boys. A mystery seems to spread round both the sexes if they are kept separated from each other. If they are allowed to mix with each other, it is bound to produce in them a spirit of good will and mutual understanding.

Second type of thoughts and disadvantages of co-education:

Coeducation has its disadvantages.

Firstly:

First, in a hot country, like Pakistan and India, co-education makes the boys and girls alive to sex matters. The boys begin to run after girls. The girls also feel proud of their boy friends. Thus, this tendency makes them neglect their studies. Moreover, the girls lose their feminine qualities. They lose feminine charm.

Secondly:

Second, the period of youth is characterized by irresponsibility and immaturity. They fear that free mixing of both sexes will lead to terrible consequences. This free contact will result in laxity of morals. The youth of both sexes will be corrupted by free mixing. Colleges will be converted into romantic arbors. Cupid wills have a free rein. There would be Romeos and Juliet in the colleges. Ugly scenes would be a common occurrence. Chastity is the greatest ornament of women. If they once lose it, they lose their place in society permanently.

Co-education has many advantages as well as disadvantage.