Education minister hosts young Afghan guests for breakfast, leaves all feeling fulfilled
'It was lovely to hear them speak Malayalam,' said the school's management committee chairman Suresh Kumar. The children, who are well-versed in English and Hindi as well, fare well in academics and extracurricular activities. The kids' class teachers and school PTA president Gopakumar R also joined them for the visit.
Shafiq and his wife Zarghona plan to enrol their youngest children, Maher, 5, and Mehnaz, 3, in the pre-primary section in the coming days. Their eldest son was unable to make it due to health issues. 'This is a land of no complaints,' Shafiq said when asked about his family's equation with Kerala. But with Shafiq's research studies getting over this year, the family may return to their homeland.
'Leaving Kerala might not be something they are looking forward to,' said Suresh, mentioning the friendships that the siblings have built up here.
Truly, home is where the heart is!
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The Prussian government wanted to standardise education across its growing by military precision, they introduced a rigid classroom not born in the Industrial Revolution, this model aligned perfectly with its factory logic and was formalised in schools across schools began to mimic factory layouts, students sat in straight lines, facing forward, trained to follow instructions rather than question row-wise sitting allowed one teacher to control large classrooms efficiently, monitor behaviour, and deliver one-way India, the frontbencher–backbencher divide took root during the British colonial education in the colonial era was a means to produce compliant clerks, administrators, and interpreters of the empire's will. 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More importantly, it removed the invisible wall that backbenchers often sit behind, both physically and in terms of engagement."It's especially helpful in primary classes, where students are still learning how to learn," he a lower primary teacher with 29 years of experience, called it "the most rewarding shift" she's seen in her teaching career."There's more eye contact, more involvement. The quieter students open up," she BENGAL, TAMIL NADU AND PUNJAB: NO BACKBENCHERSThe idea is now being tried out in Tamil state's School Education Department recently encouraged schools to experiment with a 'Pa'-shaped seating arrangement— named after the Tamil letter — under the belief that "engagement begins with arrangement".An education department official from Tamil Nadu confirmed the shift."We've encouraged schools to try the idea depending on classroom size and student strength. 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That kind of engagement is rare."The school replaced traditional rows with a semi-circular or horseshoe-shaped arrangement, making sure every student could see and face the district's school inspector, Banibrata Das, who was present during the rollout, said the results spoke for themselves."Sreekuttan moved us. It's a simple idea, but the impact is deep," Das sentiment has caught on in parts of Punjab as well. A school that screened the film reportedly introduced the new seating layout based on its states, at least eight schools in Kerala and several others in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Punjab are now tryingout the model in some form or the ARE PEOPLE SAYING ON CHANGED CLASSROOMS?Some people from other states too sought that a similar system be introduced there."No more backbenchers! Inspired by a Malayalam film, Kerala schools are adopting a U-shaped seating model to ensure every child gets equal attention. A simple shift with a powerful impact on inclusion, learning & confidence. Time for all state governments to implement this," wrote VV Lakshmi Narayana, former joint director of the others reacted to the news with humour and nostalgia."Thank goodness I didn't go to school in Kerala- they've abolished backbenchers! That was my permanent seat. Where would I have hidden my quick nap, my doodles, my secret samosa?," wrote industrialist, Harsh others said removing the last bench would not remove backbenchers, which is a mindset.- Ends
