Kerala Schools to End the Era of Backbenchers

Kerala is set to abolish traditional row-wise seating in state-run schools to eliminate the concept of backbenchers, which is believed to negatively affect students' confidence and learning. An expert panel will be appointed to propose a suitable seating model aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for every student.

In a groundbreaking move, Kerala's state-run schools are poised to eliminate traditional seating arrangements that foster the concept of 'backbenchers,' a practice considered detrimental to student confidence and learning capabilities.

The state's General Education Minister, V. Sivankutty, announced the initiative via a Facebook post, emphasizing the need to move past conventional seating arrangements in classrooms. He revealed plans to appoint a panel of experts to explore alternative seating models that best suit the state's educational framework.

The minister noted that similar models have been adopted in countries worldwide to ensure equal opportunities for students, an initiative echoed in the recent Malayalam film, 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan.' Inspired by the film, some Kerala schools have already adopted U-shaped seating to give each student equal attention.