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| “Equals, not behind: Kerala schools’ new seating arrangement a revolutionary step” | | | Priyanka Saurabh
For decades, there has been an invisible line in India’s education system - the front bench and the back bench. While students sitting on the front bench are often considered “brilliant”, those on the back bench are seen as a symbol of neglect and ridicule. But a recent change in Kerala’s government schools challenges this mindset to the core. There is no longer such a thing as “back benchers”.
In Kerala schools, students are now being made to sit in a circle or a U-shape, so that every child is facing the teacher, no one is in front of them, no one is behind them. This is not just a seating style, but an ideological revolution — it shatters the idea that the right to learning is limited to a few children.
The aim of this change is clear: equality, participation and inclusion. Every child can now make eye contact with the teacher, ask questions and feel important.
It is said that this new system is inspired by a vision shown in a film. Sometimes cinema not only entertains but also becomes an inspiration for change. Just like “Taare Zameen Par” changed the perspective towards special children, this film forced us to think about the education system. Kerala brought that vision to reality - and this is the vision that can become a new light in the education sector of India.
Education is not just bookish knowledge, it is a psychological process. A child who is always made to sit at the back, his confidence is affected. He feels that he is “inferior”, “unnecessary”. But when the same child sits in front of the teacher, becomes a part of the discussion, a new energy is born within him.
The new seating arrangement is both a challenge and an opportunity for not only students but also teachers. Now the teacher will have to become a guide who believes in dialogue and participation rather than just standing in front and giving a lecture. This transforms “one-way education” into “two-way communication”.
This new system is the beginning of bringing democracy in education. Where all children are viewed equally. This is in line with the basic spirit of the Constitution of India, which talks about equality, liberty and fraternity.
There is often a complaint about education in India that the classroom environment promotes inequality. Only a few children get the attention of the teacher, while others are left behind. This initiative of Kerala is an attempt to eliminate this imbalance. When every child sits at the same place, there will be equality in the vision and communication of the teacher as well.
From the perspective of sociology of education, this system also challenges the discriminatory mindset related to class, caste and economic status. The children who were either socially suppressed or had low self-confidence often sat in the back rows. Now that they will be in the centre, their self-esteem will increase.
This experiment of Kerala is also important because it is not just a change imposed from above by policy makers, but an idea born out of the collective thinking and consensus of teachers, students and school administration. It is in line with the global principles of inclusive education, in which giving equal opportunities to every child is a priority.
The new system takes children out of the confines of traditional discipline and brings them into a world of dialogue, cooperation and participation. It makes the teaching methodology more interactive, lively and practical.
There is also a psychological aspect to this model: when a child feels important, his or her ability to learn increases. Self-esteem, self-confidence and classroom engagement are interlinked. So this arrangement is not just a change in seating style, but a change in the learning culture.
This system is not easy from a practical point of view. In most schools in the country, the classes are small, the number of students is high and the furniture is limited. But it is not impossible either. If there is political will and the teacher community is ready in this direction, then this model can be adopted in other states as well.
If a part of the education budget is spent on restructuring the classrooms across the country, it will not only bring about physical changes but also mental and educational changes. For this, improvements in teacher training, school structure and curriculum are also necessary.
Private schools should also learn from this initiative. Often private schools focus only on rankings and exam results, but they also need inclusive, sensitive and dialogue-based education. If they really want the holistic development of students, then adopting this model would not only be appropriate but also necessary.
Parents, guardians and society should also welcome this initiative. They must understand that education is not just a process of scoring marks but a process of social, mental and moral development. When a child sits on equal terms, listens and is listened to, only then will he become a responsible citizen.
This system also challenges the idea that the teacher is supreme and the student is only a listener. Now both the teacher and the student are partners in the dialogue. This is the basic spirit of modern education, where education is not ‘power’ but ‘partnership’.
This experiment of Kerala is also in line with the vision of India’s Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes on thinking, communicating and being creative, rather than rote learning. When students are at the center of communication, their thinking ability and level of self-expression will also increase.
This will have far reaching effects. A child who is able to talk to his teacher without fear today will have the courage to speak his mind in society tomorrow. He can become not just a job seeker but also a guide for society.
There is often an atmosphere of fear in our society regarding education - fear of exams, fear of marks, fear of failure. But when the classroom environment is participatory and interactive, these fears gradually disappear. This is a big step towards fear-free education.
In short, this new seating arrangement in Kerala schools has not just changed the chairs and tables, but has changed the way an entire generation thinks, learns and interacts with society. This change has started on a small scale, but its results can be very big.
It is hoped that other states of India will also take inspiration from this experiment and take education away from ‘competition’ and towards ‘inclusiveness’. When every child is at the centre, only then will the centre of society also rest on justice, equality and participation. |
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