Backbenchers of yore? Schools' ‘class act' breaks the bench barrier

Time of India

11-07-2025

Kochi: The great Indian classroom divide between the first and last benchers is slowly being dismantled by at least a few schools in the state, by introducing a semi-circular or U-shaped seating arrangement.
The new trend is aimed at fostering better interaction and inclusivity, doing away with the concept of backbenchers.
The arrangement gained traction with the 2024 Malayalam movie 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan' that showcased it. The movie, the title of which translates to Candidate Sreekuttan, was a slice-of-life story set in an upper primary school in Thiruvananthapuram. It revolved around a backbencher, Sreekuttan, who challenges a frontbencher in school elections.
The protagonist proposes a semi-circular seating arrangement to bridge the student divide during a science fair, and the school adopts his idea in the end, marking a shift in its teaching approach.
"We screened the movie for transport minister K B Ganesh Kumar before its release, and he was impressed with the idea. He implemented it at Ramavilasam Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, where he is part of the school management," said Vinesh Viswanath, the film's director.
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The debutant director said several schools had adopted the seating formot after the film's release on OTT platforms. "At least seven schools in the state and one in Punjab have introduced the arrangement in their classrooms. We never expected such a social impact and we're happy the movie is being discussed at the national level," Viswanath said.
Sunil P Sekhar, principal of RVHSS, said in a typical classroom, students at the back often felt left out.
"Teachers unintentionally focus more on those in the front. But with this layout, every student becomes part of the core. We've seen more participation, improved teacher-student interaction and a sense of equality among students," he said.
Amruth G Kumar, a professor at the school of education, Central University of Kerala, said in the modern era, a U-shaped seating format carried greater significance, but with a caveat.
"When benches were first demarcated into rows, it was considered a progressive design suited to the increasing student enrolments of the 19th century," he said.
Kumar said the row-based arrangement was not intended to marginalise backbenchers as it allowed space for teachers to move around and interact with all students. "However, when tools like blackboards and smart screens were installed at one end of the room and teachers' movement became restricted, the format began to exclude many students from active engagement," he said.
It is to be seen if the trend would gain further momentum, but teachers in schools that have adopted the new arrangement assert that a simple change in furniture has led to improved focus, better posture and a clutter-free, engaging learning experience.