From Reel To Real: Kerala Schools Reshape Classrooms For Equal Learning

Kerala School News: In a refreshing trend towards being inclusive, Kerala schools are reconsidering classroom seating—drawing inspiration from a single classic scene in the Malayalam movie Sthanarthi Sreekuttan. The dramatic high point of the movie, in which the class sits in a semicircle, has launched a quiet revolution in Kerala classrooms.

Instead of the traditional rows which separate students into "frontbenchers" and "backbenchers," many schools are going for a U-shape. There, every student can be seen by the teacher, who positions himself at the centre of the open arc. The reform not only eliminates the stigma of the backbencher but also encourages equality and involvement. No student is overlooked, and every child has the opportunity to have face-to-face contact with the teacher.

The trend started catching up after the director Vinesh Viswanath—in his first film—emphasized this seating style as a metaphor for breaking academic and social hierarchies. Although the film was released theatrically on November 22, 2024, its message went public after its release on OTT platforms on June 20.

Viswanath was heartened when photographs of classrooms using the new seating arrangement started turning up on social media—many of them tagging him gratefully.

One of the earliest schools to adopt this transformation was RVV HSS at Valakom, Kollam. The concept has caught up with Pappinisseri West LP School and Andoor ALP School in Kannur, RCC LPS East Mangad in Thrissur, GHSS Tholanur in Palakkad, and NSV VHSS Valacode in Kollam.

In RCC LP School, Wadakkanchery, Thrissur, seven divisions' (grades 1–5) benches have been rearranged in a semicircle so that every child is within the teacher's direct line of vision.

“With this setup, it’s easier to study… We can hear and take notes better,” said Grade 5 student V. J. Angel.

Head teacher Liji added, “We implemented this seating last month. It has already brought noticeable improvement in the students’ academic performance,” according to the Kerala Kaumudi report.