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.
