J&K teachers call for U-shaped seating to end backbencher stigma

Several government schools across India are adopting U-shaped seating arrangements in classrooms, moving away from the conventional row-based setup.

This change, inspired by a scene from the Malayalam film "Sthanarthi Sreekuttan," is aimed at promoting inclusive education by eliminating the "backbencher" stigma and encouraging equal participation and visibility for all students.

The approach is gaining attention in Jammu and Kashmir, where teachers and stakeholders are calling for similar changes in classroom layouts to foster better engagement between students and teachers.

“It is a good idea, and our J&K government should work on U-shaped seating arrangements in schools. It will ensure equal attention of teachers towards students,” said Prof.Mushtaq Sidique, noted academician and former Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST).

Prof Sidique noted that such seating models were already introduced in Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), where faculty members were centrally positioned to remain accessible to all students.

He added that during his tenure at IUST, he had intended to bring in round-table formats in select departments, particularly in management studies, but regional instability at the time hindered implementation.

"If Kerala has done it, our government can also think it over, as it will have a huge impact on the teaching-learning process," he added.

Echoing similar views, Chairman of Delhi Public School Srinagar, Vijay Dhar, emphasized the need for government-led efforts in this direction, especially given the lack of basic infrastructure in many public schools.

"It has to be started at the government level because in our government schools, students are deprived of the basic facilities of desks and benches," he said.

“Government should allow private schools to adopt two to three government schools to upgrade the infrastructure and to enhance the learning outcomes,” he added.

Dhar pointed out that while the government allocates large sums for tourism and health, education often gets overlooked.

He stressed that infrastructural upgrades are essential before implementing new classroom designs.

“We have many government schools in rented accommodation with no facilities at all,” he said.

In contrast, he believes private schools are more equipped to implement such changes due to better infrastructure.

Supporting the psychological benefits of the new arrangement, Dr Arshad Hussain, professor of psychiatry at Government Medical College Srinagar, said it helps foster a sense of equality among students.

“Though we celebrate the uniqueness of individual students, instilling a sense of uniformity goes a long way in avoiding a sense of discrimination at an early age,” he said.

“U-shaped seating arrangements in classrooms are probably set up in the right direction to make children feel equal,” he added.

Minister for Education Sakina Itoo acknowledged the idea’s potential and said the government would closely study Kerala’s model before making a decision.

"We will see what possibilities are in it, as all the aspects will have to be looked into. We will also study what the Kerala government has implemented. We will study the project and assess its financial implications," she said. “Once it is properly worked out, we will consider its implementation.”