Latest news with #RVHSS
NDTV
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
From Screen To Classroom: How A Malayalam Movie Inspired A Kerala School's Innovative Seating
A government school in Kerala has caught national attention for reshaping classroom dynamics, quite literally. Moving away from the age-old idea of "backbenchers," Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, Kollam, has introduced a new seating system where every student sits in the front row, reports PTI. Seats are now placed along all four walls of the classroom, ensuring equal visibility and access to the teacher for each child. The idea was sparked by a scene from the recent Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, where a Class 7 student proposes the layout after being mocked for sitting at the back. "It was his experience of being insulted sitting on the backbench that gave him such an idea. I never thought it would get such attention. It is not an idea created by us, but we did have such a seating arrangement earlier in classrooms, as part of the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), and we had lost it somewhere in between," Vinesh Viswanathan, director of the film, told PTI. "I got a message that a school in Punjab has also adopted it after the principal saw the movie on the OTT platform. He also screened the movie for the students. I am happy that it got national attention," he added. The model gained early support from Kerala's Minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar, whose family runs RMVHSS. Having previewed the film a year before its release, the Minister initiated discussions with the school staff and introduced the new layout in one primary class. The results were so encouraging that the system is now in place across all lower primary sections of the school. Sunil P. Sekhar, the headmaster, said that it allows them to give equal attention to every child and breaks the stereotype of backbenchers being neglected or distracted. "I am able to attend to each of the students in the classroom and give better care to each of them. The students are also happy as they see the faces of all students in the classroom and pay close attention to the teacher," said veteran teacher Meera, who has nearly 30 years of experience. The concept has now spread to at least eight other schools in Kerala and is also being noticed by educators elsewhere in India. While some critics on social media question its feasibility in overcrowded classrooms, Viswanathan counters that such conditions go against school norms, and authorities are taking note. Interestingly, Anand Mahindra even reacted positively to the idea on social media, calling it a welcome move, despite admitting he is fond of the "backbencher" identity. As RVHSS celebrates former student G. P. Nandana's remarkable feat, securing rank 2 in Kerala and 47 nationwide in the Civil Services Exam, it is also earning praise for this bold and thoughtful innovation in education.
India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Kerala school adopts new seating model to eliminate backbenchers in class
At Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, Kollam district, a unique educational innovation is reshaping classroom dynamics. Inspired by a scene from the Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, the school has implemented a new seating arrangement that completely removes the concept of "backbenchers", giving every student equal visibility and new layout positions individual student desks along all four walls of the classroom, forming a square-like arrangement where everyone is essentially in the 'front row.' Initially introduced in RVHSS's lower primary classes, the model has quickly gained traction and praise, with eight other schools in Kerala and even one in Punjab adopting SPARKS A CHANGE IN CLASSROOMSDirector Vinesh Viswanathan, who helmed Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, said the idea shown briefly in the film was not entirely fictional. 'It was inspired by real experiences and practices we had seen in the past, especially during the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) years,' he said. The film depicted a Class 7 student proposing the new seating model after feeling left out as a backbencher, a moment that clearly resonated with educators and audiences alike. Vinesh shared that a school principal in Punjab watched the film on an OTT platform, introduced the layout, and even screened the movie for students, leading to further interest 'S VISION FUELS IMPLEMENTATIONThe transformation at RMVHSS was also catalysed by Kerala minister K B Ganesh Kumar, whose family manages the school. After previewing the film before its release, he discussed the idea with faculty and encouraged its pilot implementation in one classroom. Following overwhelmingly positive feedback, the model was extended to all lower primary classes.'We noticed improved student engagement and better teacher-student interaction,' said RMVHSS headmaster Sunil P Sekhar. 'The format not only eliminated backbench-related stigma but also helped teachers monitor all students more effectively.'TEACHERS PRAISE THE SHIFTMeera, a lower primary school teacher with nearly three decades of experience, shared her enthusiasm for the change. 'This setup allows me to connect with every child in the classroom. The students too seem more attentive and feel included,' she observed that students, especially in the formative years, benefited from direct teacher engagement and an inclusive classroom environment. They also highlighted that similar models are widely practised in countries like Finland and Norway, where student-centric classroom designs and lower student-teacher ratios are the REACTIONS AND WIDER CONVERSATIONSWhile the initiative has largely been met with appreciation, including a supportive tweet from business leader Anand Mahindra, it has also sparked debate. Some older students on social media questioned the feasibility of the model in overcrowded classrooms, citing issues of space. Responding to such concerns, Vinesh pointed out that classrooms with 80 students violate norms and should not exist under current educational minor criticism, the model's growing popularity signals a broader shift in how classrooms are being reimagined — prioritising inclusion, engagement, and student well-being over outdated more schools express interest in adopting this approach, Kerala could well lead a quiet revolution in reshaping not just where students sit, but how they learn.(With PTI inputs)- EndsTune InMust Watch
Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
No backbenchers : This Kerala school has introduced new seating arrangements for classrooms
In a corner of South Kerala, a school is rewriting the rules of classroom dynamics — and it's catching the nation's eye. Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, is experimenting to remove the idea of backbenchers but introducing a new seating arrangement for the classrooms. Influenced by a Malayalam movie, 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', the school has brought in an innovative seating arrangement. The school has done away with traditional rows of benches, replacing them with single rows aligned along the four walls of the classroom. In this set-up, every child becomes a frontbencher — and every voice counts. Eight schools in Kerala have already adopted this seating arrangement, and even a school in Punjab has adopted it, as mentioned news agency, PTI. 'I got a message that a school in Punjab has also adopted it after the principal saw the movie on the OTT platform. He also screened the movie for the students. I am happy that it got national attention,' Vinesh Viswanathan, director of the movie 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', told PTI. He said the movie had just one scene showing this arrangement, as an idea implemented by a 7th standard student in the film. 'It was his experience of being insulted sitting on the backbench that gave him such an idea. I never thought it would get such attention. It is not an idea created by us, but we did have such a seating arrangement earlier in classrooms, as part of the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), and we had lost it somewhere in between,' Vinesh said. The headmaster of the school, Sunil P Sekhar, told the news agency that this system enabled teachers to give equal attention to all students in the classroom and helped them monitor the students better. Moreover, it eliminated the concept of backbenchers and put all students at the forefront. He said many more schools have now shown interest in adopting this model. 'Lower primary classes are where students learn a lot of new things, and they naturally get rid of the concept or taboo of sitting on the backbenches. It also helps students to have a more direct interaction with the teachers,' he added. He said even Anand Mahindra has tweeted, saying it is a welcome move, though he personally likes the concept of backbenchers. (with inputs from PTI)
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
The classroom without backbenches: How this Kerala school is changing the way children learn
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. The move has inspired seven other schools across the state to adopt this model, alongside a school in Punjab. Several other schools have also shown their interest in adopting the model. The director of the movie Vinesh Viswanathan hailed the move by Kerala schools, and said, 'I got a message that a school in Punjab has also adopted it after the principal saw the movie on the OTT platform. He also screened the movie for the students. I am happy that it got national attention,' news agency PTI quoted him as saying. According to him, the movie had just one scene showing the arrangement, as an idea implemented by a student of Class VII, when he met with insults while sitting on the backbench. 'It is not an idea created by us, but we did have such a seating arrangement earlier in classrooms, as part of District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and we had lost it somewhere in between,' Vinesh said. Kerala Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, whose family runs the RVHSS, had watched the preview of the Malayalam movie a year before its release, and, had discussed the possibility of introducing it in primary classes of RVHSS with the teachers. 'Ganesh Kumar discussed this with us and his wife, who manages the school. We also agreed to start it in one class. The results we got were very positive and we introduced them to all lower primary classes,' Sunil P Sekhar, the headmaster of RMVHSS, told PTI. He said this system enabled teachers to give equal attention to all students in the classroom and helped them monitor the students better. Moreover, it eliminated the concept of backbenchers and put all students at the forefront. 'Lower primary classes are where students learn a lot of new things and they naturally get rid of the concept or taboo of sitting on the backbenches. It also helps students to have a more direct interaction with the teachers,' he added. While the traditional front-row seating arrangement has been implemented across the schools in the country, this new model may enable better interaction with teachers and active participation of students.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Backbenchers of yore? Schools' ‘class act' breaks the bench barrier
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ingin Tahu Tentang Diagnosis Limfoma? Dapatkan Info Selengkapnya Limfoma Baca Undo 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.
