Coeducation

Co-education means the education of boys and girls together. In recent years some of our colleges have adopted this system. Some people favour this system and want to introduce it in all schools and colleges. They say that this system is very useful. They give many arguments in support of their views. Their main argument is that in a poor and backward country like Pakistan it is impossible to maintain separate institutions. Therefore, co-education should be adopted and the existing colleges and schools should be opened to girls. The supporters of co-education also say that in a progressive society, men and women should come closer. Co-education would provide an opportunity to the young men and women to understand each other. This would be very helpful to them in their future life. It would also be good for the progress of the country. Another argument is that co-education would raise the standard of education, because it will promote competition among boys and girls. In fact, the supporters of co-education talk of its benefits in such a manner as if it were the only road to heaven. A little thought would expose the hollowness of their arguments. Everyone who has visited even a couple of colleges and schools knows that all of our institutions are frightfully overcrowded. The girl’s schools and colleges, too, are overcrowded. Hundreds of new educational institutions are needed. If some of these are reserved for girls, it would not then the consideration of economy could have been partly valid. The second argument, too, is false. If young men and women cannot understand each other in their homes and families, then they would not be able to do so in the college. Why is it that one feels that one can understand the fair sex only if one meets one’s neighbor’s daughter? The system of co-education will not raise educational standards. Temptation of flirting is stronger than the urge for reading textbooks. Co-education will create many problems not only for the students but also for the teachers. A temptation does not distinguish between the students and the teachers. The real reason why some people support co-education is that they like western culture. They want to be more English than the English. Because the west has co-education, they must have it, too. But we have to consider whether our religion, our culture, our circumstances allow us to adopt co-education. Certainly not. If co-education were inevitable, one would agree to it. But it is not a necessary evil. And there is no reason that we should patronize everything with a foreign name. our young men and women need education, and not co-education.