Are same-sex classrooms more effective in education?
CO-education is a system of education where both the genders that is male and female receive education and training in the same learning premises or educational institution.
In this system both genders benefit equally in learning and attaining knowledge from the institution.
This academic process is popular and common all over the world but in Pakistan due to some religious or cultural constraints there are many proponents of total segregation in all our educational institutes and they believe that segregation improves the learning process and it is in the best interest of the country and our future generations.
Gender discrimination is a disgusting atrocity that must be condemned in the strongest possible terms but ironically it is widely practiced in many parts of the country.
There is no doubt about the fact that this is a very common debatable topic with some cogent arguments by people on both sides of the debate but there is a need to arrive at some practical and sensible opinion to remove some rather strange and convoluted ideas about the subject of Co-education.
In ancient times, Greece, perhaps, was the only society that encouraged the system of co-education but with the passage of time more and more countries adopted this system and by the start of the 20th century almost all countries of Europe, North America and many in Asia and Africa also shifted to this system.
Many countries in Asia and Africa that were the colonies of Britain and France adopted the system in line with their colonial masters of the day.
Co-education institutions lay the foundations for both genders to learn how to co-exist with respect and dignity and the system has many practical and long lasting benefits for both genders.
Co-education teaches both genders to mingle with each other and to know the benefits of co-existence with respect and honour.
By the simple process of intermingling boys and girls develop a mutual understanding and there is no hesitation or partiality among them during any cultural, social, sports or academic activities.
Students learn how to respect each other and to know their strengths and weaknesses and the ability to accept them as they are.
Any sort of fear, hesitation in starting a conversation can be overcome in a coeducation environment where they can easily talk and create a friendly atmosphere without any fear.
This system helps them know the opposite sex better and creates a comfort zone where communication is easy and this goes a long way in helping the students when they enter the job market in the future.
In this day and age competition is an integral and essential part of life be it personal or professional.
In education it is rather important to have a healthy competition among peers which lets them learn how to cope with failures early in life.
Competition with the opposite gender is more competitive especially because of the male ego.
The system nurtures challenges among opposite genders in a healthy way and it educates the students to face their challenges and to learn from them.
Co-education institutions lay the foundation for maintaining dignity and self-esteem and helps both genders to respect each other’s self-esteem and helps them to step out in the practical world without feeling intimidated.
Recent studies have shown that students tend to behave decently and in a more polite manner in the presence of the other gender.
They are more mindful of their dress and physical appearance and are even careful of their language, in short they are at their best behaviour.
Co-education plays an important role in character building students learn to respect and listen to the opposite sex.
In any country especially in third world countries lacking resources and with very low budgets for education there will definitely be a shortage of qualified teachers if they have separate institutions for boys and girls from primary to university level.
Separate institutions results in monetary loss to the govt.or private institutions when a huge amounts are invested in separate lecturers teaching the same subjects to students under different roofs.
Coeducation system has the advantage of proper resource handling.Phenomenal amounts can be saved by the system for heating, lighting, security, sports facilities, libraries and computer labs.
Co-education supports and encourages a good decent environment with more value based education emphasizing respect and love for each other.
Critics of the co-education system have come up with some disadvantages of the system too but there is no education system in the world that has managed to eradicate all the negatives of that system, but a co-education system can mend the gap between genders and prove to be a bridge of friendship and tolerance.
“Education is a social process, education is growth, education is not a preparation for life; education is life” (John Dewey) In Pakistan there is a desperate need to avoid the element of religious extremism in our education system and co-education is one way to fight the scourge of extremism and bigotry.
According to Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
