What measures can be taken to encourage co-education
Answers
The ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, said that Co-education creates a feeling of comradeship. He advocated teaching of both the male and female sexes in the same institution without showing any discrimination in imparting education. Coeducation has many advantages indeed. Let’s have a look at a few of them.
The first advantage is the economy. India is a fast developing country, with second largest population in the world. If the government were to provide separate modern educational facilities, it would be impossible. Thus coeducational institutes are the best viable option for spreading education among the Indian girls and boys.
Studying in coeducational institutes provides boys and girls opportunity to learn mutual dependence on each other that they will find quite useful as adults in later life. Studying together they come to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses thus having a preview of the roles they will be playing in future. Coeducation provides both girls and boys to not only understand the typical behavior of their counterpart, but also develops in them camaraderie and cooperation.
Learning together gives them the opportunity to know each other’s traits, characteristics. Togetherness gives rise to friendships and developing understanding and respect between both genders. They learn to cooperate with one another and appreciate each other’s uniqueness.
Besides the above mentioned advantages there are other many behavioral patterns and etiquette that boys and girls learn from each other. Boys' aggression and rudeness is tamed by the civilizing influence of the girls; girls' sissiness and timidity is influenced by the confident assertiveness of boys. It's a win-win situation. In India, girls are academically brilliant; as a result boys are motivated to do well in studies also. Similarly, girls learn to be better in sports and games.
In order to promote coeducation its benefits must be taught to people living in backward areas. The Government with the cooperation of people and NGOs should launch coeducation awareness programs in the remote areas of the country. The Government should provide facilities such as low fee structures for coeducational institutes.
India is a promising country forging ahead towards development and advancement. It is country of freedom and equality for all. All the new milestones in its onward march are to be achieved by all Indians together. So, coeducational institutes represent that equality that India stands for.