Essay 29 Co-Education for 12/BA/B.Sc. English by AG Ahmad

 

Essay No 29

Co-education

OUTLINE: (For BA Students)

1. Co-education means educating the boys and girls in the same institution.

2. There are two schools of thought who differ sharply in their views about co-education.

3. We cannot open schools and colleges separately for both the boys and girls.

4. The boys and girls begin to have an understanding of each other at the college level

5. Co-education has its disadvantages, also.

6. In a hot country like Pakistan, co-education makes the boys and girls alive to see matters.

7. Co-education should be discarded at the university level; however, it should be continued at the primary level.

Co-education means educating the boys and girls in the same institution. It is a modern concept. It was first introduced in Switzerland but later on it became very popular in every country. It was adopted by other countries of the West like Germany, France, Canada, Russia and America. In the Eastern countries, this concept of co-education is making headway slowly. In our country, it is popular only in vocational institutions. As it is wisely said,

“Education is the passport to the future for

tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

There are two schools of thought who differ sharply in their views about co-education. One group of people favours co-education. It includes the people who are educated in the western traditions. They put forward the following points.

First, they say that we should adopt co-education in our schools and colleges because our country is poor and under-developed. We cannot open separate schools and college separately both for the boys and girls. This difficulty becomes very great in case of vocational and technical institutions. It is very difficult for the Government to open separate vocational colleges both for the boys and girls and equip them with necessary scientific apparatus and library. As Mahatma Gandhi has wisely said,

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Second, there is a great dearth of skilled teachers on technical subjects in our country. That is why, it is desirable to educate the boys and girls in the same institution.

Third, there is another advantage of co-education. The boys and girls can play an important part in their practical life in the national progress of their country. They begin to

understand each other at the college level. As it is wisely said,

Literary education builds the personality of the student but

Technical education helps him to be strong financially.

Co-education also produces in both genders a healthy competition in their studies. The boys also become more civilized and polished in the presence of girls. They try to approach the girls like sensible and civilized human beings. The girls also stand to gain something in the presence of boys. A mystery seems to spread round both genders if they are kept separated from each other. If they are allowed to mix with each other, it is bound to good will, trust and mutual understanding. As it is rightly said,

“The goal of education is understanding,

the goal of training is performance.”

Co-education has its disadvantages. First, in a hot country, like Pakistan, co-education makes the boys and girls alive to sex matters. The boys begin to run after girls. The girls feel proud of their boy-friends. Thus, this tendency makes them neglect their studies. Moreover, the girls lose their feminine qualities. They lose feminine charm. As it is wisely said,

“Education is not only a ladder of opportunity,

but it is also an investment in our future.”

Second, the period of youth is characterised by irresponsibility and immaturity. They fear that free mixing of both genders will lead to terrible consequences. This free contact will result in laxity of morals. The youth of both genders will be corrupted by free mixing. Colleges will be converted into romantic places. There would be Romeos and Juliet in the colleges. Ugly scenes would be a common occurrence. As it is rightly said,

“Education is not learning of the facts,

but the training of the mind to think.”

Chastity is the greatest ornament of women. If they once lose it, they will lose their place in society permanently. That is why; our religion forbids the free mixing of men and women at any age in life. Therefore, it is false rationally to teach them in the same institution. The boys and girls in our country play different roles in their life. The girl has to run her home. Man has to earn his living. The courses taught to the girls should be different from those taught to the boys. Co-education does not encourage this tendency. As it is wisely said,

“Education creates in us the understanding of facts,

but also the feelings and passion of others.”

We should not introduce it at the university level, because it is much harmful for the Islamic society. However, we can continue it at the primary stage.

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