9. CO-Education an Annalysis

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CO-EDUCATION-AN ANALYSISIveading jointly of both the .sexes in the same institution is called co-education. Muchdust of controversy has been raised around the question whether co-education should beencouraged or discouraged in the country. There are two kinds of opinions. Those whoare in favour of coeducation believe that it provides opportunities for both the sexes tolearn and understand each other. This understanding in the long run contributes to ahappy and contended family. In the presence of girls in the educational institutions the boys keep themselves reserved and refrain from idle talks which in turn refine and purifytheir minds.Another argument in favour of co-education is given that it develops a spirit of competition between the boys and girls both of them try to excel each other and so anideal environment for education is created. Besides this a huge amount of expenditure*on erecting separate buildings, establishing libraries laboratories, hiring teaching andclerical staff is saved. But it is a crude idea as with the increase of students as a result of girls enrolment the number of co-educational.institutions will also have to be increased.Therefore total expenditures incurred will be the same as on the separate institutions.It has also been observed that boys are rude, harsh and rough in their attitude while girlsshy-mind and subtle in their character. The intermixing of these behaviours brings a positive change in their lives. Boys in the company of girls try to behave in a decent andmodest way. Similarly girls in the presence of boys learn to develop their femininecharacters.In our own country, too, opinion is divided. One group is totally against Co-education.This group says that mixing of boys and girls results in corruption of their->378The Study of Educationmorals. Again, it makes boys rather womanish and deprives girls of their femininecharms; besides, it calls for a different curriculum. Further, it introduces a spirit of rivalryand unhealthy competition among boys and girls. The result is that the boys lose thesense of chivalry.The other group is in favour of co-education. It says that segregation of sexes is reallyharmful. If boys and girls were given more and more opportunities of mixing together,unhealthy curiosity about women would disappear, resulting in better understanding.Again, coeducation makes boys less noisy and improves their behaviour. The girls alsolearn to behave properly in the company of boys. They cast off their shyness andinferiority feelings. Thus, in Pakistan, we have mixed feelings about co-education. Therich class favours coeducation and loves to send their children to those schools andcolleges where co-education exists. It has become almost a fashion with a rich and well-to-do people to send their children to such institutions where boys and girls read together.

But the people of middle class are confused. They do not know what to do. If they senttheir children to such schools and colleges where co-education exists, their relatives andneighbours talk against them and ascribe corruption to them. Some of them hold back anddo not send their children to such institutions. Others muster courage and take pride insending their children to such institutions where co-education exists. In fact, they try toimitate the rich class and are trying to follow them in every respect.However when its merits and demerits are studies in detail it is concluded that benefits of co-education is far less than its disadvantages. The belief that co-education creates anenvironment of good academic competition between the two sexes is not endorsed byfacts. It is a common379The Study of Educationobservation that men folk find it very difficult to focus on their studies in the presence of women. Their attention is often diverted towards the pretty girls sitting alongside them.The opportunity of free mixing also leads to indiscipline and amoral activities.Shakespeare says "Frailty thy names is women". If we consider the universality of thisstatement then it can be safely said that young women can be easily deceived. Westernworld, where such institutions are common bears, testimony to it.Some people think that co-education on postgraduate level should be recommended because both the sexes exhibit a more mature behaviour at this stage but they are unawareof the fact that natural attraction between the two sexes is so strong that sometimes eventeachers establish illicit relations with the girls students. There are also examples that somany times married women are seduced by men during their mutual interaction. If suchkind of moral indiscipline is the outcome of co-education which mar the vary aim and purpose of education (that is to uplift our mental level and purify our soul) should not beapproved as a system:As far learning and understanding of both the sexes is concerned it is not reasonable tosay that only coeducation provides this opportunity. The nature and behaviour of theopposite sex can be studied in our homes. As brother and sister, as father i.nd mother, asson and mother, and as daughter and father we can easily Study our natural behaviours.History bears testimony to the fact that one of the causes of decline and decay of greatworld civilizations was the emancipation of women and free mixing of both the sexes.Co-educational institutions serve as first step towards this type of society where womencease to be called womeu and men cease to be called men in trute '-ense of the words. If the ratio of women is increased the society is then callej womanish society where the roleof men '>•;380The Study of Education

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