Overview

• Child rights activists in Karnataka have petitioned for U-shaped seating in government schools, citing pilots in eight Kerala schools and one in Punjab as evidence of improved student engagement.
• Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Sushant Reddy warns that prolonged side-facing postures in curved classrooms risk cervical strain, muscular spasms and long-term postural deformities.
• Officials from the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights caution that most government schools lack adjustable desks and multiple display boards needed to prevent neck pain.
• Child psychologist Dr. Urmila Reddy highlights that constant visibility in U-shaped layouts can heighten performance anxiety and reduce concentration for introverted or neurodivergent students.
• Education experts recommend mitigation measures—such as rotating seating assignments, installing angled desks, adding multi-directional boards and scheduling regular stretch breaks—before scaling the model nationwide.