Co-education means the education of all genders in the same school or college. The understanding of other genders is an important part of education. In the modern age, it is necessary to work hand-in-hand. Education trains a person to live a successful life. Co-education trains people from all genders to live peacefully and happily.
Interaction Between Boys And Girls In School
Education encourages a holistic development of all. It aims at making them happy and useful for society. It is important to understand people from other genders. In case one decides to get married to someone from another gender, then it might create problems in understanding each other later. Co-education prepares students to live in the practical world. This is one of the advantages of co-education.
Importance Of Education For All
Education is equally useful for all. Our poor country cannot afford to have separate schools and colleges for boys and girls in a sufficient number. It requires a lot of money. Today, there are more schools and colleges for boys than for girls. Co-education can solve this problem. Besides, everybody has equal rights and duties and they will try for some jobs in the country in the future. The competition is open to all and co-education trains them to do their duties well.
Co-education is liked by some, but there are others who dislike co-education. They find it harmful for society. The Hindu belief goes against co-education. It is said that a young girl is like a burning fire and a young boy is like pure ghee. There is another objection to co-education. It is believed that girls are shy by nature and cannot study in a co-educational institution freely. In that case, co-education will not be useful and helpful to the girls of our country. Some people argue that girls should be given a different kind of education from boys and so co-education will not serve this purpose.
Merit And Demerits
Co-education has both merits and demerits. Some experiments in co-education have been successful. Mahatma Gandhi wanted to educate both boys and girls on equal terms. Today, many women hold high posts in the country and abroad. Discipline must be of a high standard in co-educational institutions. Both boys and girls must learn good manners, only then co-education will be useful.
When young kids come closer to each other, they are more for each other than for their books. They get busy making friends with each other and running after one another. Sometimes, they even end up deceiving their parents. Under one or the other pretext, they remain away from their homes and enjoy the company of their friends of other genders in the cinema hall. The precious time of study is thus lost owing to sexual attraction.
Inside the classroom, students try to attract the attention of their friends of other genders and become absent-minded. Boys keep combs in their pockets and dress up even while the teacher is lecturing. All sorts of motions gestures and signs are made in class. This is decidedly a sign of indiscipline.
The entire atmosphere of co-educational institutions is that of indiscipline. The evil effort of co-education on the character cannot be denied. Purity of character is impossible in such an atmosphere. Such educational institutions often become fashion places. Girls of these colleges later on try to be heroes and heroines in movies. The latest fashion is imitated. In fact, all sorts of undesirable habits are formed and good qualities of character are sacrificed.
However, co-education is good from a social viewpoint also. Young kids good an opportunity to understand each other. They have to work in different walks of life in co-operation with each other. So, through co-education, a healthy spirit of working together is developed. Some of these young students choose their life partners from among their class fellows. In this way, the problem of marriage for many parents is solved. Boys and girls educated together prove more successful in their family. and social life. This is due to the understanding of each other’s psychology which they get during the period of their education.
Conclusion- Keeping in view all the bad and good qualities of co-education. We must say that we can not totally reject it. There is no harm in educating girls and boys together in primary classes. They can study there as brothers and sisters. Co-education is dangerous for High school and Intermediate classes. At this stage several physical and mental changes take place. During the period students must not be allowed to go astray. Total separation from each other is essential. Hence co-education does not suit 1o this age group, Again, in university classes co-education may be allowed.