Schools in Kerala are flipping the script of learning with a new seating arrangement in classrooms, which would eliminate the concept of “backbenchers” and place all students on the front seat, quite literally.
The Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom in South Kerala’s Kollam district has become a model for innovation in education after it introduced a unique classroom setup which ensures every primary student gets equal attention.

Influenced by the recently released Malayalam movie Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, the school has brought in an innovative U, or V-shaped seating arrangement, where single row seats are aligned with the four walls of the classroom, such that everyone sits on the front benches.

Under the new approach in Tamil Nadu schools, students will be seated in a U-shape or ‘pa’-shape (in Tamil), ensuring that every child remains visible and heard. This arrangement is being implemented on a pilot basis and may be expanded depending on the results.

The model aims to foster conversation-based learning, improve teacher-student interaction, and ensure that no student is left out due to seating position.

A MOVE TO END CLASSROOM HIERARCHY

The U-shape seating format is expected to help teachers maintain eye contact with all students, monitor classroom behaviour more efficiently, and reduce the sense of hierarchy that often comes with rows and columns of desks.

According to an official press release from the Tamil Nadu government, “Every voice should be heard and seen. Learning should become a conversation, not a lecture.”