Kollam/Bhubaneswar- In an age where education is evolving rapidly, a quiet revolution has begun in the classrooms of Kerala — one that doesn’t rely on gadgets, artificial intelligence, or grand infrastructure, but on something far more powerful: psychology, equality, and empathy. And it all began with a fleeting scene from a Malayalam film, Sthaanarthi Sreekuttan.
At Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, something remarkable is unfolding inside its lower primary classrooms. The age-old culture of distinguishing between “frontbenchers” and “backbenchers” — a psychological divide that often defines a child’s confidence and participation in school — has been completely dismantled. Instead, a U-shaped seating arrangement now encircles the teacher, ensuring that every student is placed equally in the learning environment. There are no backbenchers here. Every child is visible, heard, and included.
As of now, several schools across Kerala have adopted this new system. Notable examples include:RVV HSS, Valakom, Kollam, Pappinisseri West LP School, Kannur Andoor ALP School, Kannur, RCC LPS East Mangad, Thrissur, GHSS Tholanur, Palakkad, NSV VHSS Valacode, Kollam
This innovative move wasn’t drafted in a policy paper or imposed from above. It was inspired by a heartfelt moment in cinema, where a student, humiliated for sitting at the back, proposes a new way of sitting that places all learners equally around the teacher. That reel moment became real when Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, whose family manages the school, saw the film before its release and proposed the concept to the school staff. With courage and conviction, the school decided to test the idea in one classroom. The results were so positive — from student confidence to teacher-student interaction — that it was soon adopted in all lower primary sections.
Veteran teacher Meera, with nearly 30 years of experience, shared that for the first time, she feels connected with each child. The layout not only enhances student engagement but also levels the emotional playing field. Children who once hid in the corners now make eye contact, ask questions, and feel seen. The silent caste system of “bench-based” intelligence — where frontbenchers are often praised and backbenchers overlooked — is being erased.
This is not just a change in furniture; it is a change in mindset.
Today, the idea has spread to at least eight more schools in Kerala and has reached as far as Punjab, where another principal adopted the model after watching the same movie on an OTT platform. From small towns in southern India to classrooms across the country, a fresh educational philosophy is taking root — one that prioritizes inclusion over tradition, equity over hierarchy.
Even business leaders like Anand Mahindra and Harsh Goenka took note of this model, praising its transformative approach, albeit with a chuckle about their own backbencher days. But their recognition only affirms that this isn’t a small or passing idea — it’s a national conversation starter.
And now, it’s time for Odisha to listen.
We call upon the Odisha government and the Department of School and Mass Education to adopt this model across both government and private educational institutions. In a state where the future of lakhs of children depends on how classrooms shape their minds, it is imperative that we challenge the invisible labels that seating positions impose. The current method of lining up students in straight rows, where only the front row receives the lion’s share of attention, leaves many children psychologically sidelined. A change in classroom layout could be the most impactful and cost-effective reform in our educational system.
Let’s remember: in the foundational years of a child’s learning, it is not just curriculum or marks that matter — but the feeling of belonging, of being seen, and of knowing that they too are worthy of attention and growth.
The U-shaped classroom promotes shared visibility, better participation, emotional safety, and stronger teacher-student bonds. It also aligns with global best practices observed in countries like Finland and Norway, where such arrangements are part of progressive, child-friendly education systems.
Odisha has long been a land of resilience, creativity, and community. Let it now also become a pioneer in educational innovation. Let us adopt this inclusive seating model in Anganwadis, primary schools, and beyond. Let our classrooms become spaces where no child is “behind” — physically, mentally, or emotionally.
The change we need doesn’t always begin in the corridors of power. Sometimes, it starts with a movie scene, a child’s idea, or a school that dares to dream differently.
Kerala has shown the way.
Odisha must now rise and walk the path.
Let us give every child — from Koraput to Kendrapara, from Bhubaneswar to Bargarh — the front row they deserve.
Because in the classroom of the future, there are no backbenchers — only equal learners.
