I would like to raise the topic "does co-education corrupt the youth?" Because it is of vital importance in the present educational system all over the world. I don’t know what exactly is happening all over the world. But I know pretty well the situation in Andhrapradesh, India, here there are both co-educational and separate schools for boys and girls.The situation is the same at the intermediate level. Some think that co-education is the best and some favour separate schools for boys and girls especially at the secondary and at the intermediate level because during the period the students are subject to physical, psychological, sociological and religious, cultural and gender-based aspects very vigorously.The intensity of the problem may be different from country to country and culture to culture but the attraction to opposite sex is the same all over the world. I teach at secondary level, first I would like to express my opinions. I think there are both advantages and certain disadvantages of co-education. I would like to talk about the topic from my personal point of view.
The advantages are:
- the boys and girls know one another and adjust themselves to the changes that are happening in their bodies and minds because of the onset of puberty.
- It is easier for the teachers to control the class in the co-educational school .The boys in separate schools are much more noisy and some times uncontrollable.
- we can celebrate the functions and national festivals more naturally and colourfully .boys and girls mix freely and add charm to the festivities.
The disadvantages are
- during the pre adolescent and adolescent period the boys and girls are attracted to the opposite sex too much. so there are sexual abuses, rumours, scandals, illegitimate sexual contacts in certain extreme cases.
- It is rather difficult to discuss the sex related problems like HIV, AIDS etc freely in the class now I would like to ask the question; Which is better for the youth.? co-education or separate schools for boys and girls?
I worked both in the co-educational and boys’ schools. Personally I favour coeducation despite its certain obvious disadvantages. Instead of me talking about the pros and cons myself I would like to know the comments from the teachers, Educational psychologists, sociologists and the feminists etc on this vital educational issue
Awaiting your valuable comments on this global issue.
Yours sincerely,
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I am writing from Kerala. This is one issue I have been musing about. I don't really have any complaints about separate boys and girls schools butt I do have a problem with co-educational institutes that take in both the genders and treat them differently.
Here in the Southernmost belt, boys and girls are not allowed to talk with each other.
They are made to sit in separate sections of the classroom.
The same applies to the canteens and other areas.
The boys are aggressive and participate in organisational activities in schools and colleges and the girls get left behind.
This is not only unnatural but also hinders classroom activities that involve communication. Girls also shy away from taking centre stage and are not helped in anyway by their classmates.
Dear batook,
Thank you very much for keeping the ball rolling first. I think that kerala is a much more liberal and educated state than andhra pradesh in which i live. We have almost the same cultural practices and prejudices. But i am really surprised at the restrictions imposed on girls in the southern belt of kerala.It is inhuman and undemocratic to discriminate girls in organisational activities in colleges and schools.
It is a fact that many restrictions are imposed on women in the name of religion, culture,chastity and so on allover the world in varying degrees.OFCOURSE, IT IS A RATHER SENSITIVE ISSUE TOO. I too agree to your comment that it is better for girls to have separate schools and colleges instead of the boys' segregating and dominating them.
BUT SUPPOSE THE GIRLS WERE GIVEN FULL FREEDOM TO MIX WITH BOYS witout any discrimination, would they protect themselves from the attraction of the boys? It is a fact that physically boys are safer than girls. Girls have obvious natural disadvantages. Now we can debate this from two angles. Which IS better for girls?coeducation or separate schools and colleges?The other point is "are seperate schools safe for both girls and boys at the secondary and at the intermediate level as they can be away from the lure of opposite sex and they can concentrate much better on their studies?
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely.
JVL NARASIMHA RAO.
I don't have any experience with separate schools, so no comment there... but, being an Australian who has been living in China for the past 8 years, I can comment a big difference between the secondary schools in those two countries (nb. all comments on China are 'until recently' as the 'western' influence is increasingly more obvious and it will probably be just like Australia in 5 or 10 years):
This suggests to me that co-ed is fine, as long as the teachers are seen as real authority figures.
Hello,
Thanks for posting this interesting issue for us to consider.
I grew up in a co- ed school and have been teaching in this type of schools for a few years now.
Personally, I cannot see any disadvantages. In the real world men live and work next to women so why should we artificially change that since the very beginning? How else are you expecting children to learn about the opposite sex than by interaction on an everyday basis?
Someone mentioned that touching upon sensitive issues like sex or HIV in a co-ed school might be a problem. Why is that so? Yes, kids giggle when they hear about that or feel to shy to talk but there are ways to get over that.
If you start separating kids at such an early age, the clash between men and women in your country will continue to thrive.
Anyway, that's my point of view :)
Anita
Dear mr Heath,
Good to see a scholar like you back! thank you very much for sharing your thougts with all of us on this global issue. Being Australian working in China you are able to show the differnces of culture-western and Eastern beautifully. The eastern culture is almost the same whether it is India or China. The gender bias is not the same all over the world. You seem to prefer co-education If the teachers are authoritative. I think that the teachers in the East are more formal and authoritative than the western teachers. I think the western teachers are more flexible and informal. So why don't the east embrace Western freedom and the eastern authority as far the problem of co-education is considerd? As I said earlier I prefer co-education to separate education for boys and girls. Anyhow, gender discrimination on any ground is inhuman, undemocratic and unconstitutional.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
JVL NARASIMHARAO
I think we do have to remember that societies and cultures are very different.
For example, Anita says "Yes, kids giggle when they hear about [sex or HIV] or feel shy to talk", but that is one society's kids. In many countries, the children would react very differently, ranging from simply having no idea what you are talking about, to shock or even digust. In some places they might say nothing to you, but go home and tell their parents - ending up in severe punishment for talking about issues that are utterly taboo in their country.
So, I guess, what I think is that co-ed's a good thing, but only if parents and teachers ensure that children know that rules exist and certain topics or actions are not acceptable.
Dear Anita (littlemissbossy), T
hank very much for your invaluable comments on this global and intersting educational issue.Personally like you I favour Co-education. I think it is inhuman to segregate boys and girls on the grounds of gender and the problems of puberty.I am influenced by eastern culture and western thought. In fact it is I who have mentioned that touching upon sensitive issues like sex eduction, HIV, AIDs are a problem in co-educational schools. I am working in a semi urban school in A.P in India. I have talked about the problems here. It may not be a problem at all in western culture. I agree with you totally that boys and girls should be allowed to study in the same SCHOOL,same class, in the same section, If possible, sit on the same bench. I don't like gender descrimination in any culture on any ground.After all gender is a matter of chromosomes. Of course some people may object to this. They have right to entertain their viewa and opinions on this vital topic.
Thanks a lot for making the topic lively and educative. Awating more comments on this,
Sincerely yours,
JVL NARASIMHARAO
Dear mr girishseshamani,
It is good to see you A scholar of your stature back. Because of you and batook I am able to see the other side of kerala. So far I have thought that kerala is a very progressive state. My friends in chennai and Bangalore used to say that there was no discrimination on any ground-caste,religion,gender etc in kerala.But the facts are really baffling.Even the female literacy is very high in kerala compared to other southern states.You have shown the other side of the coin in kerala.The situation is the same in Andhrapradesh in which I live and teach.
I really appreciate your efforts in the class room dealing with sensitive issues like premarital sex ,sexual discrimination etc. very tactfully. Anyhow, I think, you will have to bear the brunt for doing so.I hope things will change in the near future.I prefer co-coeducation to separate education. Of course, that is my personal opinion.
with kind regards,
sincerely yours,
JVL NARASIMHA RAO
I guess I have to write a few things to clarify my point.
I was not the one who mentioned talking about sensitive issues. Of course students' reaction will vary from one country to the other. The choice of topics you can or cannot touch upon also also depends on the country or society.
If you cannot talk about sex in e.g. India because the parents will not like that, don't! I am not allowed to talk about many issues that interest me in Turkey either. Even with colleagues of friends.
The main issue was whether co-education is beneficial or not. Being Catholic and teaching in a Muslim country, I will say again that yes.
Anita