9. Co-education: Essay

9.  Co-education

 

1.      Introduction

2.      System of educating boys and girls together

3.      Origin and early history

4.      Development of personality

5.      Economical in nature

6.      Shortage of good and efficient teacher

7.      Mixed blessings for both genders

8.      Uneasiness for teachers and students

9.      Far cry from our social, cultural and religious norms

10.  Conclusion

 

As Nelson Mandela says,

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Co-education is a system of educating boys and girls together. In ancient times, co-education existed in Greece. There was no discrimination between boys and girls. They studied and played together. Along with academic education, physical training was also given to both the genders.

Plato, the Greek philosopher, believed that co-education helped in the development of the personality of both men and women and created a feeling of comradeship among them. In the west, the importance of co-education has been felt since ancient times.

In early Vedic Society (Ancient India), co-education was prevalent in a few places. In medieval India, those belonging to lower castes and the womenfolk were not allowed to attend schools or study the scriptures.

Today co-education is prevalent in almost all the countries of the world. In Pakistan, there are a number of co-educational schools, colleges, and universities. There are a number of advantages to the co-educational system of education. It is economical in nature. Poor countries cannot afford to open separate schools for boys and girls are taught together in the same school, then there is no need to open separate schools for them. Thus, the cost to be incurred on building infrastructure furniture, stationery, personnel recruitment, etc. will be saved.

There is a shortage of well-trained teachers in developing countries like Pakistan. if there is co-education, the same staff can teach both boys and girls at the same time in the same class, and the problem of teacher shortage can be dealt with Establishing more of co-educational schools can help in spreading literacy even with the limited teaching staff and infrastructure. Thus, co-education is beneficial for both boys and girls and the nations as a whole.

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”

(George Washington Carver)

Co-education helps the boys and girls to intermingle and understanding each other well. They become broader minded and tolerant towards the opposite gender. They interact freely with one another and thereby overcome hesitation and shyness. Thus, co-education leads to a healthy and harmonious relationship between boys and girls.

In a co-educational school, they develop a feeling of friendship among themselves. Co-education contributes to the balanced development of the personality of boys and girls.

Boys become conscious of their dressing habits, behavior and the style of communication in the company of girls. They dress properly, behave well and talking a decent language. Girls, similarly, overcome their shyness, behave well with boys and understand them better.

Co-education generates a spirit of healthy competition among boys and girls. It generates a feeling of equality between both the sexes. The feeling of male dominance may be wiped out of society if this system of education is given importance. Co-education will help both sexes to learn and work together for the progress of the country.

"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today"-               (Malcolm. X)

Education is equally important for boys and girls. Basically, education is a universal need, rather the right of every citizen, keeping in view the requirements and conditions in a developing country like Pakistan, we need a greater number of educated manpower.

The percentage of education in Pakistan is hardly 25%. It is very low as compared to that of other SAARC countries especially Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The educated females' percentage in our country is about only ten percent.

If we want to have a harmonious growth female education is to be given due importance in the national planning schemes. More girls’ schools and colleges are to be opened all over the country, the primary must be made free and compulsory both for boys and girls. More share is to be allotted for the purpose of the national budget. Special attention to be paid to teachers training because teachers are builders of the nation.

However, some people are opposed to the system of co-education. According to them, this system is against the Islamic culture and Pakistani tradition.

Teachers of some subjects like Biology also find it easier to explain some chapters more thoroughly if only girls or boys are sitting in the class. The first disadvantage is the boys find it difficult to concentrate upon studies in the presence of girls. The attraction of the opposite sex disturbs their attention. It results in bad performance. Secondly, Islam prohibits free mixing of young boys and young girls particularly at this age because it may lead them to the path of astray. So, it is not advisable to provide them such a platform in the educational system at the primary level.

Moreover, It should be acknowledged that in the fast-changing society of the twenty-first century co-education has to become the order of the day. Today girls are entering all professions in large numbers. Many of them are heading big organizations. Co-education will help young boys and girls to mix freely and understand one another better.

“Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens.”

 We must encourage them to develop their personality in a free healthy atmosphere. Co-education will help both sexes to learn and work together for the progress of the country.

We can conclude that in Pakistan, Co-education can be successfully adopted at the primary education level but it is not so desirable at the college and university level. Perhaps the situation can change in the future.

(920 words)