CO-EDUCATION

Co-education means a system of education in which boys and girls study together in the same institution.

Co-education is no longer a controversial issue since nowadays in most of the educational institutions there is co-education, though there are separate institutions also for boys and girls.

But in the past it was a controversial issue and even today in some orthodox societies the controversy is going on. Those who oppose co-education say that boys and girls are different physically, emotionally and mentally. They have to play different roles in life. So the same type of education is not suitable for both the sexes. Again, the presence of members of opposite sex is likely to distract the attention of both boys and girls and this will have a harmful effect on their studies and progress in life. Therefore it is better to have separate educational institutions for boys and girls, with courses and curriculum's suited to them. Such an arrangement will help them to play their roles in life better.

Those who are in favour of co-education say that boys and girls are mentally not different and physical and emotional difference is no bar to learning any subject. In modern times women are competing with men in almost all fields of life and are doing almost all the jobs as well as men. Therefore girls too have to be prepared for all the jobs for which boys are being prepared.

Again, there is no truth in the argument of distraction of attention. There is, no doubt, natural attraction between members of opposite sexes. But boys and girls will try to excel in their studies in all fields in order to win the admiration of the opposite sex. This will improve their overall performance. There is attraction between husbands and wives but are they not able to perform their jobs well on that account? Since boys and girls are going to stay together in their life, why should we not provide them scope for working together? It would enable them to grow normally and naturally so that they will be able to adjust well in their real life when they live together.

Segregation of the sexes for education is therefore neither natural nor healthy and is therefore not desirable.