November 6, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 30,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: Students and teachers of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) seem quite concerned over the spate of statements issued by the leaders of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) against the existing co-education system at public sector universities of the country.

After emerging as the third largest political force following the PML-Q and PPP in October 10 general elections, leaders of the MMA right from Qazi Hussain Ahmad to its local representatives are vociferously targeting the system by terming co-education as un-Islamic and potential threat to social values of a Muslim society. It may be added here that women leadership of the MMA, in a series of seminars held across the country, had supported the idea and agreed to work under men accepting their inherited fragility.

They are convinced that if the MMA forms government in the centre, it will immediately abolish the co-education system both in public and private sector educational institutions and set up more universities to accommodate increasing number of female students.

What is wrong with the co-education, a senior member of the QAU faculty who requested not to be named questioned.

For the last two decades, I am teaching at the university and have noticed no problem with it, he added.

“Pakistan has already a few universities where research students are being accommodated, hence, it will be unjustifiable to restrict such institutions exclusively either for male or female students,” the professor said.

He maintained that it would further deteriorate education standards in the country as in public sector, there already existed a limited number of opportunities particularly for female students.