The
Role of Co-Education in Society
The Woman's
cause is the Man’s.
They rise and
sink together.
(Tennyson)
A
great controversy exists about co-education. The education of boys and girls
together in the same institution is called co-education. There are two schools
of alleged in this respect. Those educated in Western tradition and having a
liberal approach towards life favor it. They put forward the following
arguments.
They
point out that females are no longer dumb driven cattle to be kept under
control and to be confined to the four walls of the house. They have discovered
themselves and come into their own. They point out that where co-education
prevails, the character develops better, and shyness diminishes. The mixing of the
boys and girls does much to rub off their peculiar angularities and complexes
Competition is greater between the two sexes, so that higher standards of
achievement are reached.
It
is wrong to think that co-education will foster lustful Intentions, voluptuous smiles, and carnal pleasures. In fact, when there is free mingling of
girls with boys, sex consciousness will be least roused. It is the segregation of
girls from boys that whets the sex instinct.
It
may be stated without fear of contradiction that co-education raises the moral
as well as the intellectual tone of an institution. The boys begin to behave
more gracefully and elegantly and look very smart and agile. They would like to
appear in their best and neatest clothes. The girls also bid farewell to their
awkward shyness and mannerisms and develop into sober and practical beings. In
short, co-education is the best teacher of the art of living. In co-educational
institutions, a sort of healthy rivalry is set up between boys and girls which
leads to serious study. The girls would like to emulate boys and the boys will
try their level best to excel the girls.
The
supporters of co-education also argue that Pakistan being a poor country is not
able to open separate colleges and universities for the boys and the girls.
There is a great dearth of skilled teachers in technical subjects in our country.
Therefore, it is desirable to educate the boys and girls in the same
institution.
The
opponents of co-education argue that in a hot country, like Pakistan,
co-education makes the boys and girls alive to sex matters. The boys begin to
hanker after the girls. The girls also feel proud of their boyfriends. They fear
that free mixing of both sexes will lead to terrible consequences. Colleges
will be converted into romantic arbores. Cupid will have a free vein. There
would be Romeo and Juliet in the colleges. Ugly scenes would be a common occurrence.
Chastity is the greatest ornament of women. If they lose it, they lose
their place in society permanently. That is why, our religion prevents the free
mixing of men and women at any stage of life. Keeping in view the teachings of
Islam, which is a balanced and fair religion, we can say that co-education is
not desirable in our colleges and universities. However, it may be encouraged
at the primary level.
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