Latest news with #RamavilasamVocationalHigherSecondarySchool
Time of India
12-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Driven by film on backbencher, Kerala schools reform seating
KOCHI: The great Indian classroom divide between frontbenchers and backbenchers is being bridged in some Kerala schools by introducing a semi-circle seating arrangement that seemingly reduces the degrees of separation between teachers and students. The idea, inspired by the 2024 Malayalam movie 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', is meant to initiate better interactions and inclusivity, including doing away with the cross of "backbencher" that many students bear for a lifetime. "Before its release, we had shown the movie to state transport minister K B Ganesh Kumar. He was impressed with the idea and implemented it in Ramavilasam Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVGHSS) at Valakom, where he is part of the school management," said debutant director Vinesh Viswanath. At least eight schools in the state, and one in Punjab, have since altered seating inside classrooms to improve the optics of teacher-student interaction. "We never expected this kind of social impact. We are happy that the movie is being discussed nationally," Viswanath said. 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan' revolves around backbencher Sreekuttan, who challenges a frontbencher in the school elections. The protagonist, during a science fair, proposes semi-circular seating to bridge the student divide. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like So sánh mức trượt giá: Hợp đồng tương lai (CFD) Bitcoin vs Ethereum IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo In the movie's finale, his idea is adopted by the school, marking a shift in teaching patterns. "In a typical classroom, students at the back often feel left out, and teachers unintentionally focus more on those in the front rows. With a semi-circular layout, every student is now part of the core," said Sunil P Sekhar, principal of RVGHSS. "We have noticed more participation, improved teacher-student interaction, and a sense of equality among students." Amruth G Kumar, professor at Central University of Kerala's School of Education, said classroom seating used to be "U-shaped" until education spread. "Schools shifted to a row-like system when the number of enrolments increased in the 19th century," he said. Teachers in schools that have shifted to semi-circular seating acknowledge that the change has resulted in students showing improved focus and better posture, making learning easier, clutter-free and more engaging.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- 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.
