Can U-shaped seating in metro schools change how students learn and connect?
Reflecting on the larger context, he adds, "Today we are in the midst of Industry 5.0, yet the classrooms largely still reflect what they were more than a hundred years ago. It's high time we liberated design to allow more vibrant spaces for students to become thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers."BREAKING AWAY FROM OLD HIERARCHIESThe reform marks a crucial shift away from the rigid labels of 'front-benchers' and 'backbenchers.' Dr. Manimekalai Mohan, Founder & Managing Trustee of SSVM Institutions, Coimbatore, emphasises the inclusivity of this initiative.'The new initiative taken by the Tamil Nadu government to reimagine classrooms is truly commendable. It marks a significant shift toward inclusive and collaborative learning. In this new setup, students are no longer identified as 'first benchers' or 'last benchers.' Instead, the focus is on collective learning, where every child is seen, heard, and encouraged to contribute.'She further notes that the U-shaped format is particularly effective for expressive subjects like drama or dance, where every student benefits from clear views and enhanced participation.EVERY CHILD BECOMES A FRONT-BENCHERFor Harish Sanduja, Director, Schools and IT, Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions, the U-shaped orientation is a game-changer for student engagement.'Classroom orientation has a direct bearing on student experience and learning outcomes. Traditionally, the row seating arrangement in classrooms promoted the didactic style of teaching and created a culture of backbenchers or students who lagged behind. The initiative of U-shaped seating orientation in classrooms in Tamil Nadu is a welcome move to enhance student engagement."advertisement"In a way, it makes all students front-benchers and does away with the traditional hierarchy in which backbenchers were at a disadvantage. Every child gets equal attention from the teacher. Students get to make eye contact not just with the teacher but also with each other. The U-shaped orientation promotes a sense of community within the students and encourages greater participation and peer learning. It is an initiative worth emulating."A STEP TOWARD PARTICIPATORY AND DIALOGIC LEARNINGDescribing the initiative as both 'quiet' and 'revolutionary,' Dr. Alka Kapur, Principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, points out that the layout is as much about pedagogy as it is about design.'The formation of the U-shaped classroom for middle schools is perhaps one of the quietest yet revolutionary steps toward making education participatory, inclusive, and dynamic. The teacher is placed at the centre of the new layout, ensuring equal visibility and attention to each student. This arrangement is meant to be inclusive by removing any physical and symbolic divide between front and backbenchers.'advertisementShe notes, however, that the effectiveness of such reforms depends heavily on teacher training and infrastructure. 'A change in seating arrangement cannot produce desirable results unless faculty are trained for facilitative teaching methods. Moreover, this strategy would be difficult to implement in schools with small classroom sizes since space cannot be extended easily. Overall, this movement from rows to semicircles could improve the learning scenario in Indian classrooms, and the transformation from monologic teaching to dialogic learning is expected to raise the quality standards, especially in government-run schools.'MODEL FOR THE FUTURETogether, these voices echo a strong message: Tamil Nadu's U-shaped classrooms are more than just a new seating plan; they symbolise a shift toward a culture of equity, interaction, and innovation in education. If extended to metropolitan states and beyond, this approach could serve as a national blueprint, ensuring that every student—no matter where they sit-has the opportunity to be seen, heard, and empowered to learn.- EndsMust Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
28-07-2025
- India Today
Crumbling Classrooms: India's public schools have become death traps for children
Seven children. That's how many young lives were snuffed out when a government school roof collapsed in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district on Friday morning. But here's the thing that should shake us all: this wasn't a freak accident. It was morning started like any other at Piplodi Government Upper Primary School. Children gathered for morning prayers around 8:30 am. Some noticed chunks of gravel falling from the ceiling and alerted their teachers. But the teachers dismissed their to a media report, one was reportedly eating poha when the roof came crashing down. Within moments, seven children aged between 6 and 15 were dead, under slabs and debris. A surviving student gave a particularly chilling account to India Today TV: "Pebbles were falling. When the students told the teachers, they scolded them and kept having breakfast. If the children were taken out, the accident would not have happened."The teacher's apathy mirrored something much larger -- India's complete desensitisation to the possibility of school building NUMBERS THAT TELL A HORROR STORYThe statistics paint a grim picture of India's school infrastructure. According to the latest UDISE+ data, over 6,000 schools across India don't even have proper buildings. That's 6,000 schools where children are expected to learn without basic the problems run much 57.2% of India's schools have functional computers, 53.9% have internet access, and a shocking 52.3% lack ramps with handrails for disabled telling of all: out of India's 10.17 lakh government schools, only 33.2% have disabled-friendly toilets, and of these, just 30.6% are functional. (AI-generated image) Here's what's truly damning: the Rajasthan school that collapsed wasn't even on the district's list of unsafe buildings, Jhalawar Collector Ajay Singh confirmed to PTI. He said the district administration had recently asked the education department to identify dilapidated buildings -- but this school didn't make the raises serious questions about how these safety surveys are conducted. If a building that kills seven children wasn't flagged as dangerous, how many other ticking time bombs are we sending our children to every day?'I will get it investigated, and action will be taken against whoever is found guilty,' Singh told PTI. But that's cold comfort to the families now burying their BUDGET REALITY CHECKIndia's education budget has grown steadily over the past five years, reaching Rs 1.28 lakh crore in 2025-26. The Department of School Education alone received Rs 78,572 crore this year -- its highest-ever allocation. Sounds impressive, right?advertisementBut here's the catch: most of this money never reaches actual infrastructure improvements where it matters Samagra Shiksha scheme, which includes infrastructure funding, gets about 52.5% of the school education budget. Yet despite these allocations, children are still studying in buildings that are literally falling government loves to boast about progress. Per-child expenditure (public expenditure, not direct cash benefit) has grown from Rs 10,780 in 2013-14 to Rs 25,043 in 2021-22. Electricity coverage in schools jumped from 53% to 91.8%.But when you dig deeper, the picture gets murky. What's the point of having electricity if the roof might cave in during morning prayers? A PATTERN OF PREVENTABLE DEATHSThe Rajasthan incident isn't isolated. In fact, just a day later, in Uttar Pradesh, four children were injured when a school ceiling's plaster collapsed during are part of a horrifying pattern that's been building for years:2024: Two workers died in Karnataka when an under-construction school building collapsed during inspection.2023: A Class 6 student in Karnataka's Ramanagara district died when a government school wall collapsed, causing fatal head injuries.2015: Nearly two dozen students were injured in Bihar when panic ensued after a classroom roof portion fell, triggering a incident follows a familiar script: structural warnings ignored, complaints dismissed, and children paying the ultimate price for administrative CASTE AND CLASS DIVIDEThere's another uncomfortable truth about the Rajasthan tragedy. According to UDISE+ 2023-24 data, out of 94 students in the Piplodi school, 78 were from Scheduled Tribes, 5 from Scheduled Castes, and 11 from Other Backward Classes. Not a single child from the general category was studying other words, the school catered almost entirely to marginalised children -- exactly the kind of students the system routinely fails. (Photo: As one parent pointed out while speaking to media, most of the students in the school belonged to the Bhil community and came from families that couldn't afford private education. Children from more privileged caste groups, were enrolled in a nearby private message is clear: crumbling government schools are good enough for India's poorest children, while those who can afford it flee to private REAL INFRASTRUCTURE CRISISDespite the government's claims of progress, the ground reality is stark. A 2019 study by NIMHANS and Underwriters Laboratories found that most schools fared poorly on physical safety study revealed that only 54.2% of schools had anti-skid flooring, and fire safety was compromised in most situation has barely improved. Today, over 2.4 lakh schools don't have library facilities, and 9.47 lakh schools lack functional computer an era where digital literacy is crucial, 87.72% of schools (both government and private) -- that's 11.71 lakh schools -- don't have internet WITHOUT IMPACTAnd what about funding? In FY 2024-25, the education sector was allocated just 0.38% (state budgets, which fund the majority of schools, are not included in this ratio) of India's GDP. For FY 2025-26, that figure dropped slightly to 0.36%.advertisementThe Economic Survey 2023-24 shows that total public expenditure on education, including state and central spending, has hovered between 2.7% and 2.9% of GDP for nearly a decade -- well below the 6% target set by the NEP these expenditure figures aren't for school education alone. They include allocations for sports, arts, and culture lumped under the broader 'education' umbrella. Even then, there's a massive gap between fund allocation and effective utilisation in the education sector. From Economic Survey 2023-24 In Karnataka alone, Rs 4,658.25 lakh was allocated for infrastructure facilities under Samagra Shiksha in 2022-23, with an additional special allocation of Rs 14,342.40 lakh for rejuvenating basic infrastructure in government schools. Yet, children continued to study in unsafe problem isn't just money -- it's accountability. Between 2018-19 and 2023-24, 11,012 major repair works were sanctioned under Samagra Shiksha, but only 8,348 were happened to the remaining 2,664 repair works? How many children are studying in schools that were supposed to be fixed but weren't?THE APATHY EPIDEMICPerhaps the most disturbing aspect of the Rajasthan tragedy is the institutional apathy it revealed. Students saw danger signs and reported them. Teachers ignored the warnings. District administrators never flagged the building as unsafe despite conducting isn't just negligence -- it's a systemic failure that treats the lives of poor children as government's response follows a predictable pattern: suspend some teachers, announce compensation, promise investigations, and move the six total teachers, five teachers were suspended from the Rajasthan school. Families were promised Rs 10 lakh compensation and a government job. But what about the thousands of other unsafe schools across the country? (AI-generated image) Education Minister Madan Dilawar's statement to TOI was particularly telling: "We allocated funds for the maintenance of 2,000 dilapidated government schools in phases.'This admission reveals that the government knows there are at least 2,000 dangerous school buildings. How many children are sitting in classrooms right now, unaware that their school might be the next to collapse?THE BIGGER PICTUREThe Rajasthan school collapse is a symptom of a much larger disease. Despite tall claims about education being a priority, India's approach to school infrastructure remains dangerously building impressive statistics -- more schools, higher budgets, better coverage -- while ignoring the basic safety of the children these institutions are meant to tragedy isn't just that seven children died. It's that their deaths were entirely preventable. It's that similar incidents will likely happen again because the underlying problems remain unaddressed. It's that we've created a two-tier education system where poor children attend schools that would be condemned in any developed in this case, one surviving student told media that they had noticed pebbles falling from the roof and alerted the teacher. But the teacher said nothing would the Indian government too has become desensitised to the possibility of government school collapses, just like this teacher didn't care. They are apathetic to the we treat school infrastructure with the urgency it deserves -- until we stop seeing crumbling schools as acceptable for other people's children -- tragedies like Rajasthan will continue to shock us with their only real surprise is that they don't happen more often.- Ends
India Today
28-07-2025
- India Today
Can U-shaped seating in metro schools change how students learn and connect?
In Tamil Nadu, a quiet yet powerful transformation is taking shape within school walls. The state government's initiative to introduce U-shaped classrooms is being hailed by education leaders as a landmark step in making learning more inclusive, participatory, and engaging for students. The new seating arrangement is not just about where children sit; it's about reshaping the way they connect, collaborate, and what if this model were adopted across schools in India's metropolitan states? Experts believe it could significantly reduce classroom hierarchies, boost collaboration, and make urban schools more engaging for students navigating increasingly competitive academic environments. Widespread implementation could transform not just how students learn but how they interact, share ideas, and build confidence in some of the country's most diverse and high-pressure classrooms.A DESIGN THAT REDEFINES'When you change the way children sit together, you change the way they connect, engage, and learn,' says Ajay Singh, Principal of The Scindia School. 'The U-shaped classrooms in Tamil Nadu are a powerful reminder that even a simple change in classroom design can make learning feel more open, inclusive, and less monotonous. Instead of staring at the back of someone's head, students can see one another's faces, share ideas more naturally, and feel like part of a cohesive learning community. This setup nurtures confidence, encourages dialogue, and builds mutual trust, qualities that are just as vital as academic achievement.' Reflecting on the larger context, he adds, "Today we are in the midst of Industry 5.0, yet the classrooms largely still reflect what they were more than a hundred years ago. It's high time we liberated design to allow more vibrant spaces for students to become thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers."BREAKING AWAY FROM OLD HIERARCHIESThe reform marks a crucial shift away from the rigid labels of 'front-benchers' and 'backbenchers.' Dr. Manimekalai Mohan, Founder & Managing Trustee of SSVM Institutions, Coimbatore, emphasises the inclusivity of this initiative.'The new initiative taken by the Tamil Nadu government to reimagine classrooms is truly commendable. It marks a significant shift toward inclusive and collaborative learning. In this new setup, students are no longer identified as 'first benchers' or 'last benchers.' Instead, the focus is on collective learning, where every child is seen, heard, and encouraged to contribute.'She further notes that the U-shaped format is particularly effective for expressive subjects like drama or dance, where every student benefits from clear views and enhanced CHILD BECOMES A FRONT-BENCHERFor Harish Sanduja, Director, Schools and IT, Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions, the U-shaped orientation is a game-changer for student engagement.'Classroom orientation has a direct bearing on student experience and learning outcomes. Traditionally, the row seating arrangement in classrooms promoted the didactic style of teaching and created a culture of backbenchers or students who lagged behind. The initiative of U-shaped seating orientation in classrooms in Tamil Nadu is a welcome move to enhance student engagement."advertisement"In a way, it makes all students front-benchers and does away with the traditional hierarchy in which backbenchers were at a disadvantage. Every child gets equal attention from the teacher. Students get to make eye contact not just with the teacher but also with each other. The U-shaped orientation promotes a sense of community within the students and encourages greater participation and peer learning. It is an initiative worth emulating."A STEP TOWARD PARTICIPATORY AND DIALOGIC LEARNINGDescribing the initiative as both 'quiet' and 'revolutionary,' Dr. Alka Kapur, Principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, points out that the layout is as much about pedagogy as it is about design.'The formation of the U-shaped classroom for middle schools is perhaps one of the quietest yet revolutionary steps toward making education participatory, inclusive, and dynamic. The teacher is placed at the centre of the new layout, ensuring equal visibility and attention to each student. This arrangement is meant to be inclusive by removing any physical and symbolic divide between front and backbenchers.'advertisementShe notes, however, that the effectiveness of such reforms depends heavily on teacher training and infrastructure. 'A change in seating arrangement cannot produce desirable results unless faculty are trained for facilitative teaching methods. Moreover, this strategy would be difficult to implement in schools with small classroom sizes since space cannot be extended easily. Overall, this movement from rows to semicircles could improve the learning scenario in Indian classrooms, and the transformation from monologic teaching to dialogic learning is expected to raise the quality standards, especially in government-run schools.'MODEL FOR THE FUTURETogether, these voices echo a strong message: Tamil Nadu's U-shaped classrooms are more than just a new seating plan; they symbolise a shift toward a culture of equity, interaction, and innovation in education. If extended to metropolitan states and beyond, this approach could serve as a national blueprint, ensuring that every student—no matter where they sit-has the opportunity to be seen, heard, and empowered to learn.- EndsMust Watch
India Today
16-07-2025
- India Today
How are CBSE schools adapting to the new language policy mandate?
The idea that a child learns best in the language they first speak is gaining traction and policy support. As part of the National Education Policy (NEP), schools have been urged to adopt mother tongue-based instruction in the foundational years. This has prompted an immediate response from many leading institutions across India, not just in policy but in pedagogy.'Schools have started using the mother tongue as a medium in classroom instruction,' said Harish Sanduja, Director Schools and IT at Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions. 'Books, story material, and audio-visual aids in local languages are being introduced. Teachers are undergoing orientation, and bilingual learning tools are being created to support students in the shift.'advertisementIn a similar effort, Sanamdeep Chadha, Director of Genesis Global School, shared that her school has initiated a phased implementation, beginning from KG to Class 2. 'Our first step was tracing the language background of our students. We're recruiting teachers proficient in these languages and rolling out pilot classes before scaling up.'HUMAN CAPITAL CHALLENGE One of the most immediate hurdles schools face is staffing, finding educators fluent in regional languages and trained in modern pedagogy.'Recruiting teachers for multiple regional languages is one massive undertaking,' said Dr. Alka Kapur, Principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh. 'For now, we'll wait for further CBSE instructions and upskill the existing staff using digital tools and language proficiency incentives.'Genesis Global is taking a community-integrated route. 'We're working with local training centres to create short-term certification programs and bringing in retired teachers and community members,' said Chadha. 'This adds authenticity to language inputs in the classroom.'Meanwhile, in states like Uttar Pradesh, where Hindi dominates, the challenge is relatively muted. 'We do not face significant difficulty in teacher recruitment,' noted Sanduja. 'Routine training sessions, digital tools, and collaboration with language specialists are helping us gear up.'MANAGING THE MULTILINGUAL MOSAICIndia's diversity doesn't end in culture. The classrooms are multilingual by default. Balancing various mother tongues while ensuring comprehension is no small feat.'At our school, a multilingual classroom model is adopted, where the dominant mother tongue is used alongside English,' said Aditi Misra, Director at DPS 45 Gurgaon and School Director at Dharav High School. 'Visual aids, in-house worksheets, art integration, and peer support systems are part of our daily learning process.'Genesis Global takes a slightly different route. 'We are creating adaptive groupings by sharing language and linking instruction in the mother tongue to Hindi or English,' said Chadha. 'Peer-learning and experience-based strategies cross linguistic boundaries and foster understanding.'Sanduja adds that simple tools—like pictorial instructions and grouping by dialect can make inclusion natural. 'Teachers are already sensitive to linguistic differences and respect them.'BRINGING PARENTS ALONG No transition is complete without family buy-in. Schools are working hard to help parents understand and support this language-first guest speaker programs, and cultural shows with 100% participation help us build partnerships with parents,' Misra explained. 'We'll now include research on cognitive benefits of mother tongue learning in newsletters, and co-create language-rich resources with the community.'At Genesis Global, the approach is participative. 'We conduct orientations and expose parents to global success stories,' Chadha said. 'Parents are even encouraged to serve as resource persons in the Preparatory and Foundational stages.''Folk songs and home tasks help promote solid home-school collaboration,' said THE WAY WE ASSESSWith learning in a new medium, the methods of assessment must evolve too.'In the early years, we place greater emphasis on oral expression and concept comprehension,' said Misra. 'For transfer students, flexible evaluation parameters help during the transitional phase.'Sanduja supports the idea of oral assessments. 'Teachers use diagnostic tools and even cultural events for informal assessments,' he Global is prioritising formative tools. 'We're giving importance to oral, visual, and activity-based assessments. For transfer students, we create bespoke language transition profiles,' said CHILD LEFT BEHINDUnderstanding that not all students will instantly adapt, schools are putting in place remedial measures.'At our school, we offer remedial sessions, buddy support, and supplementary material,' said Misra. 'Teachers are trained to use bilingual strategies in mixed-language classrooms.'advertisementGenesis Global has also planned after-school and weekend language sessions. 'We're introducing bridging modules in the first term, using AV tools, peer mentoring, and teacher-led support groups,' said mentioned summer camps and individualised support as key tools. 'Visual aids and narration help students cross linguistic barriers,' he CURRICULUM CONUNDRUMSwitching the language of instruction affects content too.'Curricular content must be localised, simplified, and made contextually relevant,' said Misra. 'We develop in-house material in collaboration with teachers.'Genesis Global is working with curriculum experts to maintain intellectual depth. 'We are translating NCERT-based content and using culturally relevant examples,' Chadha schools are bringing folk stories and cultural components into subjects like Social Science. 'Charts and e-resources are being modified into the mother tongue,' said Vs MOTHER TONGUEWhile the mother tongue is important in early learning, English still holds sway in higher grades and competitive exams.'Education is globalised today, and English matters,' said Misra. 'We need to ensure a smooth transition to English in higher grades to meet student and parent aspirations.'Genesis Global is introducing Hindi and English gradually from Grade 2 or 3. 'Language labs and bridge courses help prepare students for national boards,' Chadha Jaipuria schools, bilingual instruction is introduced in middle school. 'By high school, students are equipped for English-medium assessments,' Sanduja SCHOOLS NEEDAll educators agreed that government and board-level support is non-negotiable.'We look forward to systematic support—textbooks, digital content, and teacher training modules,' said urged early availability of quality textbooks in local languages, teacher grants, and policy clarity.'Support in the form of regional E-content, assessment guidelines, and training resources is essential,' echoed schools are steadily stepping into a multilingual future. This shift isn't just about changing the medium of instruction—it's about respecting identities, boosting comprehension, and setting the stage for inclusive learning. As these educators show, success lies in partnership, patience, and persistent innovation. - EndsMust Watch
