CO-Education

Co-education has been a controversial issue. Co-education means the teaching of boys and girls under the same roof. It's also means imparting the same education to both the sexes without any distinction. This issue is perfectly settled so far as primary education is concerned. At college and university stages it is passively tolerated, but at secondary stage co-education is actively opposed.

            The opposition to co-education is based mainly on two arguments. First, it is said that boys and girls being allowed to mix rely run every risk of going astray and suffering the total frustration of their educational career. These consequences are apprehended because at this period the period of adolescence both the boys and girls remain very sentimental romantic and effusive and inflammable. On the other hand they possess no power to resist the tide of emotion. Secondly, it is contended that girls should received the different type of education from the given to boys because their spheres of activities are widely different. The education of girls under in system is bound to remain imperfect. It would not therefore equip them to face the battle of life with success. The advocacy for co-education is based chiefly on economic considerations. Maintenance of separate institution for boys and girls is a costly affair. This is particularly so in rural areas where even boy`s school suffer for want of sufficient number of students. It is also pointed out that the most of the village girls having crossed the primary stage find it compelling to give up their studies for want to school.

            Some religious minded people are against co-education. They do not like to send their daughters to such institutions where both the boys and girls taught under the same roof. Thus their daughters are deprived of receiving education at university level. Then against the oft-cited harm odd co-education, its various other benefits should also measured.

            It has many advantages. First, if boys and girls taught together, there will be no need for opening separate school and colleges for girls. Co-education is an economical system because both boys and girls can study in the same institution and they can be taught by the same staff. Secondly boys and girls have to live together in the society in their later lives and if they are taught together from the very  beginning, they can understand each other  well. Thus they will able to get rid of unhealthy sex curiosity and craze from which most of our boys and girls living in  isolation suffer. The closer association of both would also help in creating an atmosphere of healthy revelry and inspiring them to emulate each other`s virtues. Again if they are taught together, it will create a sense of healthy competition among them. Therefore they will work hard and pay serious attention to their studies. Of course, certain conservative people criticize the system o co-education. According to them it is against our religion and Islamic traditions. There also fear that co-education will develop immoral relations between boys and girls.