Co-Education
Co-education has made a rapid progress in modern time. It was first introduced and adopted in Switzerland, but now the most backward countries of the world seem to favor this system. In our country too co-education at the college stage is considered with favor even by leading educationists. At present, there is co-education only in a few colleges of our country. But, as the supporters of this system have very cleverly urged the commission on National Education to recommend it as a useful system for the people of this country. It is feared that in the near future almost all the colleges of the country will adopt this system at all stages.
In the first place, they tell us Co-education in an economic necessity in our county. This economy is still more necessary in technical and vocational institutions where it is not possible to have separate laboratories for boys and girls. Moreover, they plead it is unwise and uneconomical two colleges where one can serve the purpose both for the boys and girls. Some people believe that it is a waste of money to maintain a double system of education and to establish separate colleges for boys and girls.
The other point which they put forward with a still greater force is concerning the social contracts which Co-education provides for the two sexes. The supporters of Co-education believe that if our young boys and girls are educated together they shall develop a sort of mutual understanding which may prove helpful in their life as men and women.
The opponents of Co-education argue that in a county like ours, the system of Co-education is not practicable because physiologically, our boys and girls become younger at an early age and their consciousness of the sex is quite shard when they reach the college stage. Under such conditions co-education may excite in them the sex urge and divert their attention from studies. We should also take into the consideration that our youths are likely to misuse the opportunity of free mixing then to use it properly, If they are brought by the system of Co-education, it will upset the whole society. Secondly, every one knows that aims of education for the two sexes in our country are quite different form those in the west.
We believe in the segregation of sexes in every field of life. As the boys and girls of our society. do not adopt similar careers in life it is foolish to give them similar education as their needs are different from one another, it is false. Lastly, the opponents of co-education argue that in country like Pakistan, our classes are already crowded and is quite easy to have fledged colleges for boys and girls separately. Co-education can prove economically only in those countries where the number of students are very small. Our religion does not allow free mixing of boys and girls.
Thus, we find the demerits of Co-education greater than its merits. And therefore, it is unwise to introduce the system of Co-education in Pakistan.
