Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty’s proposal to reconfigure classrooms to prevent students from being pushed to the back benches has been largely welcomed though questions remain about its practicality.

Educationist R.V.G. Menon says rethinking the classroom seating arrangement is desirable, especially if it brings all students face to face with teachers. The traditional row upon row seating style is an unwritten rule in schools that is best avoided. The shift away from it will help promote closer engagement and give and take between students and teachers. “The most important thing is flexibility in the classroom environment. Teachers should be free to make any amendments,” he says.

He, however, acknowledges that it is very difficult to change the existing configuration as it depends on the student strength and classroom size.

All Kerala School Teachers’ Union (AKSTU) general secretary O.K. Jayakrishnan says reworking classroom seating will promote inclusivity and ensure individual attention to students. However, its practical implementation across classes will be difficult.

It is well suited to primary classrooms that usually have 10-20 students. However, in high school and higher secondary classes, the large number of students and the classroom dimensions will likely not prove conducive to any shift in the seating pattern, he says.

Though the model to be adopted in the State was yet to finalised, Ranjith Unnikrishnan, consultant orthopaedic spine surgeon at KIMS Health here, warns against the U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped seating arrangement that is gaining popularity. “Such a model will lead to neck pain. Classrooms should resemble an amphitheatre, with both the students in the front row and the back able to look straight.”

He calls for deciding the maximum seating capacity first and then deciding the size of the room based on various dimensions instead of the other way around.

Ophthalmologist George Thomas is of the same view. Even if students in the middle in the U or semi-circle model are able to look straight ahead, those sitting at the two extremities in such a model will end up with neck pain or headache if they have to twist their neck to look at a screen or white/blackboard for prolonged periods such as in Mathematics or Science periods.

Moreover, a proper distance from the screen/board will have to be ensured for students sitting at the two ends.

Sunitha G.S., a Class III teacher at Government Model Lower Primary School, Thycaud, says this model works for younger students since they do not have to look at the board for long stretches; most of the learning is activity-based which children enjoy when the teacher was in their midst. Also, it is fit for a classroom that has around 25 children. Her students keep rotating their seats too.

However, arranging furniture in such a pattern for upper primary or other older students could be a problem, she points out.