8. Co-education
Co-education is a system of education in which both the sexes receive their education under the same roof. It is becoming popular in almost every country of the world. It is also being adopted in Pakistan. But in Pakistan, it is a controversial issue. There are two groups in Pakistan. One group advocates this system and the other group opposes it.
The group in favour gives the following reasons. First, ours is a developing country. Our resources are not substantial enough to stomach the expenses of separate educational institutions for boys and girls particularly at high level and on a large scale.
Secondly, this system promotes the spirit of fierce competition between the boys and the girls. They try to outdo each other. It is due to this stiff competition that the students demonstrate uncanny skills in learning.
Thirdly, co-education is of great help in character building activities among the students. The students become wise and sagacious. The boys become cultured and civilized in the company of girls. The girls also get confidence and poise.
There is another group which does not advocate this system. They opine that this system may be of great value in the countries where the traditions of honour and nobility no more exist. They have no trouble with free mixing of boys and girls. But, Pakistan is a Muslim country. Our religion, tradition and culture do not allow us to adopt this system. Secondly, in a hot country like Pakistan, this system is out and out a failure. Here the boys and girls become young at a very early age. Their free mixing creates chances of corruption.
Third, both have different roles to play in life. Therefore, the syllabus for both the sexes should not be same.
To sum up, the system of co-education is a western concept. So, co-education should not be allowed here. Separate institutes for both the sexes should be set up. All the excuses regarding in the favour of co-education should be rejected. Only Islamic point of view should be kept in mind.
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