Co-education is a system of education in which boys and girls learn together in the same school or college at the same
time. In India this system has become very popular nowadays. Needless to say that it is not a new thing for us. It has been in practice from a long time, though not like today. But with the coming of Muslims in India, co-education came to an end because of the Purdha system of which the muslims were the great advocates.
Time is changing very fast and with the change of age and expansion of education co-education is no longer a taboo now. What to talk of big towns and cities, even in villages and small towns boys and girls study together without any problem. Actually the idea of common people has sharply changed. They are no longer narrow-minded. Apart from this, there are many advantages of co-education and people are very much aware of it. Hence, it has come into practice on a large scale in India.
When boys and girls interact with each other right from the childhood, the fear, craze and mystery of the opposite sex automatically removed from the mind. They observe the changes that come in each others body and mind with ages as a normal course of growing up. Moreover, they learn to understand each other's individuality, behavior and way of thinking. Setting, moving, talking, studying and eating together removes many complexes and makes the person's approach more rounded and wholesome.
Co-education teaches both boys and girls to be tolerant and respectful of competitions with each other. It teaches the students to face the realities of life. Education, in the real sense, is not limited to knowledge imparted by books, it is a continuous process of learning more from our environment, society and changes around us. With the opening Up of new vistas of learning, and new opportunities of career, it has been understood that men and women contribute equally in every field of society. Hence there must not be any hesitation In facing each other, instead it is better to solve any problem contributing equal efforts. In this way this education system , develops a wonderful mutual understanding between both the sexes. After all they have to live together in life. Then why should be an unnatural separation of sexes in our schools and colleges?
We should feel proud that Sm. Vijay Laxmi Pandit was first woman to preside UNO. Sm. Raj Kumari, Amrit Kaur also presided WHO of UNO in India. Not only this, there were many more like Sucheta Kriplani, Aruna Asaf Ali, Sarojini Naidu etc. who worked together with men under the leadership Of Gandhiji and did a lot to win India's freedom.
Last but not the least, co-education is rather economical. It is difficult to run separate girl schools or colleges at every ' place. Hence, there is no harm in giving education to boys and girls in the same institution in the same environment. This system no doubt, builds a solid base of education.
