Overview

• The Tamil Nadu School Education Department issued a July 11 order requiring all government schools to adopt a U-shape classroom layout to boost student engagement.
• Since early July, eight schools in Kerala and one in Punjab have implemented the semi-circular seating inspired by a scene in the Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan.
• Educators such as head teacher Liji report that the new arrangement improves teacher visibility, student participation and early academic performance.
• The design echoes the 1994 District Primary Education Programme’s call for flexible seating and mirrors inclusive layouts used in Finland and Norway.
• Social media reactions range from praise for its egalitarian focus to nostalgic remarks about the lost back-bencher culture.