Overview

• General Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced on August 5 that Kerala will abolish the traditional backbencher concept and has formed a committee to identify inclusive seating layouts.
• The expert panel will evaluate international practices—from Finland’s flexible arrangements to India’s own District Primary Education Programme pilots—to recommend a model suited to Kerala’s infrastructure and pedagogy.
• Several schools in Kerala have already experimented with U-shaped and semi-circular classroom layouts inspired by the Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan to ensure every pupil receives equal attention.
• Orthopaedic surgeons and educators caution that horseshoe seating may cause neck strain for students at the ends of the curve and pose challenges in overcrowded or irregularly sized classrooms.
• Once the committee submits its report, the Education Department will review its findings before issuing any formal seating guidelines or a phased rollout plan.