9. Co-education An Annalysis

CO-EDUCATION-AN ANALYSIS Iveading jointly of both the .sexes in the same institution is called co-education. Much dust of controversy has been raised around the question whether co-education should be encouraged or discouraged in the country. There are two kinds of opinions. Those who are in favour of coeducation believe that it provides opportunities for both the sexes to learn and understand each other. This understanding in the long run contributes to a happy and contended family. In the presence of girls in the educational institutions the boys keep themselves reserved and refrain from idle talks which in turn refine and purify their minds. Another argument in favour of co-education is given that it develops a spirit of competition between the boys and girls both of them try to excel each other and so an ideal environment for education is created. Besides this a huge amount of expenditure* on erecting separate buildings, establishing libraries laboratories, hiring teaching and clerical staff is saved. But it is a crude idea as with the increase of students as a result of girls enrolment the number of co-educational.institutions will also have to be increased. Therefore total expenditures incurred will be the same as on the separate institutions. It has also been observed that boys are rude, harsh and rough in their attitude while girls shy-mind and subtle in their character. The intermixing of these behaviours brings a positive change in their lives. Boys in the company of girls try to behave in a decent and modest way. Similarly girls in the presence of boys learn to develop their feminine characters. In our own country, too, opinion is divided. One group is totally against Co-education. This group says that mixing of boys and girls results in corruption of their->378 The Study of Education morals. Again, it makes boys rather womanish and deprives girls of their feminine charms; besides, it calls for a different curriculum. Further, it introduces a spirit of rivalry and unhealthy competition among boys and girls. The result is that the boys lose the sense of chivalry. The other group is in favour of co-education. It says that segregation of sexes is really harmful. If boys and girls were given more and more opportunities of mixing together, unhealthy curiosity about women would disappear, resulting in better understanding. Again, coeducation makes boys less noisy and improves their behaviour. The girls also learn to behave properly in the company of boys. They cast off their shyness and inferiority feelings. Thus, in Pakistan, we have mixed feelings about co-education. The rich class favours coeducation and loves to send their children to those schools and colleges where co-education exists. It has become almost a fashion with a rich and wellto-do people to send their children to such institutions where boys and girls read together.

But the people of middle class are confused. They do not know what to do. If they sent their children to such schools and colleges where co-education exists, their relatives and neighbours talk against them and ascribe corruption to them. Some of them hold back and do not send their children to such institutions. Others muster courage and take pride in sending their children to such institutions where co-education exists. In fact, they try to imitate the rich class and are trying to follow them in every respect. However when its merits and demerits are studies in detail it is concluded that benefits of co-education is far less than its disadvantages. The belief that co-education creates an environment of good academic competition between the two sexes is not endorsed by facts. It is a common 379 The Study of Education observation that men folk find it very difficult to focus on their studies in the presence of women. Their attention is often diverted towards the pretty girls sitting alongside them. The opportunity of free mixing also leads to indiscipline and amoral activities. Shakespeare says "Frailty thy names is women". If we consider the universality of this statement then it can be safely said that young women can be easily deceived. Western world, where such institutions are common bears, testimony to it. Some people think that co-education on postgraduate level should be recommended because both the sexes exhibit a more mature behaviour at this stage but they are unaware of the fact that natural attraction between the two sexes is so strong that sometimes even teachers establish illicit relations with the girls students. There are also examples that so many times married women are seduced by men during their mutual interaction. If such kind of moral indiscipline is the outcome of co-education which mar the vary aim and purpose of education (that is to uplift our mental level and purify our soul) should not be approved as a system: As far learning and understanding of both the sexes is concerned it is not reasonable to say that only coeducation provides this opportunity. The nature and behaviour of the opposite sex can be studied in our homes. As brother and sister, as father i.nd mother, as son and mother, and as daughter and father we can easily Study our natural behaviours. History bears testimony to the fact that one of the causes of decline and decay of great world civilizations was the emancipation of women and free mixing of both the sexes. Co-educational institutions serve as first step towards this type of society where women cease to be called womeu and men cease to be called men in trute '-ense of the words. If the ratio of women is increased the society is then callej womanish society where the role of men '>•;380 The Study of Education

gradually decreased. The ultimate result is then the destruction of sound family system that culminates into the devastation of the civilization. Islam has strictly forbidden the free interaction of male and female. Quran clearly enjoins on the Muslims" say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty that will make for great purity for them. And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear there of, that they draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their father, their mother or their brother's son or their sister's son or their women or the slaves whom their right hands possess or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And o, ye believers, turns ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain bliss" (S.xxiv.30-31) This shows that Islam urges the segregation of men and women and its objective in doing so is to preserve the chastity of womenfolk. The real ornament of a woman is her chastity and modesty. Therefore it is imperative for her to be modest and man should honour her modesty. In view of the explanation given above it is concluded that the trend of co-education must be discouraged be it on lower or higher level. It does not mean that we should deprive our women from getting education but separate educational institutions be set up for them. It is worthy to mention that our provincial government (N.W.F.P.) has sensed the gravity of matter and taken a step in right direction by opening of Frontier College for girls or setting up of a separate university for women in, Peshawar.