Co-education

Co-education means the imparting of education to boys and girls together in the same institution. Co-education is prevalent in almost all countries. In India, too, many institutions are co-educational. Still, there were separate institutions for boys and girls. The government has introduced co-education in almost all government institutions.

Co-education has many advantages. The first advantage is that it saves a lot of money on separate institutions, laboratories, and libraries. Both the sexes can study in the same institution and can make use of the equipment in laboratories. Boys and girls make use of the same library, same playgrounds, and same computers. They can seek guidance and education from the same learned staff.

Boys and girls can shed their complexes. They can understand each other's habits, temperament, and ambitions, Boys in the presence of girls behave well. They do not use vulgar language. They try to be soft and good to them. The girls, too, shed their shyness. They converse with them fearlessly. They become good classmates and friends. All put on neat, clean, and good clothes. Girls try to look attractive and boys try to look healthy and masculine. They do not remain absent from classes.

There is a healthy sense of competition among them. Girls and boys try to excel each other in the field of academics and extramural activities.

The presence of boys and girls in functions adds charm and glitter. The mixed cast in plays makes them realistic and interesting. They go out for picnics together. They enjoy their leisure together. They study and discuss various problems facing the country from their respective point of view.

Some educationists are against the introduction of coeducation in schools and colleges. They argue that boys and girls are immature and can go astray. They will flirt and waste time. Students will not be serious in their studies in each other's presence. Boys will always look at girls, fashionable clothes, and their pretty faces. They will tease them. Coeducation will give rise to indiscipline. Those who are in favor of co-education oppose this view. They say that coeducation from the primary stage onward will solve this problem. The opponents also argue that women need to study different subjects because they have to lead a different life later on. So they should study in separate institutions. But girls have entered each profession. Hence they can study with boys in the same institutions. They have become engineers, lawyers, bank officers, police officers, and army officers, educated girls no longer are confined to their house.

In this modern age, there is no danger of boys and girls going astray. They are exposed to television, foreign magazines, and video cassettes. They can differentiate between good and bad. Moreover, the teachers can guide them and tell them the dangers of sexual misconduct. The girls, therefore, can be expected to look after themselves in the co-educational institutions.