Priyanka Debnath, working as a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) content writer at Jhuns Infotech, felt like a fish out of water when she joined a firm which had only male employees. Having studied in an all-girls school and college didn’t make it any easier!
“At the interview I was told that I am the only girl recruited. It took a while for me to adjust and get over my shyness,’’ says Priyanka who completed her education in Kolkata. Encouraged by her bosses, Priyanka shed her inhibitions and familiarised herself with her 28 male team members. Over a period of time, Priyanka started to feel comfortable in the work environment. “Now, I can work in any company.
However, I miss those days in school when I was a daredevil amongst the all-girls gang,’’ she reminisces.
Expressing freedom
Media professional Sherry (name changed), who studied in a co-ed school up to Class 12 missed the “fun” and “vibrance” when she joined a reputed women’s college in Kerala to get the subject of her choice – English Literature. However, there was an advantage, too. “There was a lot of freedom. We could voice our opinions easily which many of us hesitate when we are in co-ed for the fear of being teased or made fun of,’’ she says, matter-of-factly. It’s not only women who felt it wasn’t the easiest experience working or studying alongside the opposite sex. Interestingly, Dinakar Wilson, Principal of the reputed Baldwin Boys High School in Bangalore, was too shy to speak to his women subordinates. Reason? He too, like many students in the country, had studied in only boys school and college! “My experience with boys is 32 years,” smiles Dinakar. “I would enjoy with my friends though I studied in all-boys school and college. However, when I joined the workplace, initially, I would feel shy. Later, I got over my shyness and became more comfortable,’’ he adds.
Principals of all non-co-ed schools opine that most parents do not admit their kids because “it’s all girls/ boys” institutions. In fact, they say that parents send their kids mainly for the proximity and reputation of the institution. “When we ask parents why they chose our school, their answer is reputation,’’ says Indira Williams, Principal of Baldwin Girls High School, Bangalore. “There is always interaction with the boys from other schools when there is inter-school competition. In fact, we have observed that the competition will be high among them and the girls always want to beat the boys,’’ she says. Did her students find it difficult to adjust later? “Not at all, They are comfortable” pat comes the reply.
First day blues
Some of the students after studying in all girls/ boys school are, however, apprehensive about their first day in co-ed institutes. For instance, Shreya Nayak, who has applied to a co-ed college for first year pre-university course says, “I am going to co-ed institutions after studying 12 years in all-girls school. I am not used to boys around. I think I will take a little time to adjust to the new environment.” This teenager admitted that she felt that co-ed institution would have been better as “it would have been easier” for her. “Sometimes I become self-conscious in the presence of men. It could be also the fact that I don’t have any younger brothers,’’ she adds. However, Shreya’s father Satish Nayak, a civil engineer, feels that she is not self-conscious in presence of men. On any particular reason for choosing all-girls school, Satish is quick to add, “I just went by the reputation of the school. We tried for another school but the infrastructure was not satisfactory. In fact, my second daughter was also keen to study in the same school.”
Not all feel the transition from all-boys/ girls to co-education is hard. Tista Sengupta, who recently completed her postgraduation, actually loved studying in co-education. “I was more of an adventurous person and less into chit-chatting or gossiping like most of these girls do. In my co-ed college, I found guys with similar interests,” she shares. It’s not only at the school-level, even at the professional level—engineering course, there are only-women’s engineering colleges. In fact, there are three only-women engineering colleges in Karnataka. The East Point College of Engineering for Women is one of them. “We cannot convert into co-education.
The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) clearly states that if the admission is less than 40% of the approved intake in the last three years then it’s possible to convert. But our intake is above 80%,’’ shares Giridhara Reddy, Principal of the college. He has another problem: “I am not able to fill 100% of seats. That’s why I want it to be converted to co-education.” Dr. P Prakash, Principal, GSSS Institute of Engineering and Technology for Women, says, “The main focus has to be learning, gaining knowledge. We need to create an environment such that thorough empowerment is given to women.” The college encourages students to participate in various competitions where they need to interact with male students. “Hence they will have no inhibitions when they join the work place,” he says. His advice to students: “There is no need to get nervous or have any inhibitions about the opposite sex. They too are human beings after all.”
Co-ed set-up more motivating?
Fr Joy Fernandes, Principal of St. Joseph Indian Middle School in Bangalore, says co-ed institutions has its own merit. He adds, “Co-education gives more impetus towards motivation.” They have introduced co-education for the first and second year Pre-University course (PUC) or Class 11/ 12. Thimmappa M S, former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University and Psychology Professor advocates co-education. “We have to relate to the opposite sex at school and college level itself. Otherwise, students become isolated, leading to social awkwardness. So, let there be a male and female interaction in a healthy manner because in reality they must exist together,’’ he adds.
"Co-education rules best at workplace"
H Maheshappa, Vice-Chancellor, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Karnataka
There are three women engineering colleges in Karnataka. The women engineering colleges were started after All Indian Council for Technical Education (AICTE) relaxed some norms for those starting all-women engineering colleges. The main reason to have a women engineering college is to encourage more women to join professional courses.
However, I strongly feel that co-education is best. When you join a workplace, there will be interaction as they work in a team. If one studies throughout in all-girls/boys college then one’s attitude towards the opposite sex would be entirely different. Some of them may not open up or even maintain a distance. One of the main reasons for parents to send their children to all boys/girls is to see they don’t distracted. The more you try to segregate, the more it’s going to be a problem for the children. Therefore, consider everyone as equal.
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