Latest news with #DistrictPrimaryEducationProgramme
NDTV
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
From Screen To Classroom: How A Malayalam Movie Inspired A Kerala School's Innovative Seating
A government school in Kerala has caught national attention for reshaping classroom dynamics, quite literally. Moving away from the age-old idea of "backbenchers," Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, Kollam, has introduced a new seating system where every student sits in the front row, reports PTI. Seats are now placed along all four walls of the classroom, ensuring equal visibility and access to the teacher for each child. The idea was sparked by a scene from the recent Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, where a Class 7 student proposes the layout after being mocked for sitting at the back. "It was his experience of being insulted sitting on the backbench that gave him such an idea. I never thought it would get such attention. It is not an idea created by us, but we did have such a seating arrangement earlier in classrooms, as part of the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), and we had lost it somewhere in between," Vinesh Viswanathan, director of the film, told PTI. "I got a message that a school in Punjab has also adopted it after the principal saw the movie on the OTT platform. He also screened the movie for the students. I am happy that it got national attention," he added. The model gained early support from Kerala's Minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar, whose family runs RMVHSS. Having previewed the film a year before its release, the Minister initiated discussions with the school staff and introduced the new layout in one primary class. The results were so encouraging that the system is now in place across all lower primary sections of the school. Sunil P. Sekhar, the headmaster, said that it allows them to give equal attention to every child and breaks the stereotype of backbenchers being neglected or distracted. "I am able to attend to each of the students in the classroom and give better care to each of them. The students are also happy as they see the faces of all students in the classroom and pay close attention to the teacher," said veteran teacher Meera, who has nearly 30 years of experience. The concept has now spread to at least eight other schools in Kerala and is also being noticed by educators elsewhere in India. While some critics on social media question its feasibility in overcrowded classrooms, Viswanathan counters that such conditions go against school norms, and authorities are taking note. Interestingly, Anand Mahindra even reacted positively to the idea on social media, calling it a welcome move, despite admitting he is fond of the "backbencher" identity. As RVHSS celebrates former student G. P. Nandana's remarkable feat, securing rank 2 in Kerala and 47 nationwide in the Civil Services Exam, it is also earning praise for this bold and thoughtful innovation in education.
India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Kerala school adopts new seating model to eliminate backbenchers in class
At Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, Kollam district, a unique educational innovation is reshaping classroom dynamics. Inspired by a scene from the Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, the school has implemented a new seating arrangement that completely removes the concept of "backbenchers", giving every student equal visibility and new layout positions individual student desks along all four walls of the classroom, forming a square-like arrangement where everyone is essentially in the 'front row.' Initially introduced in RVHSS's lower primary classes, the model has quickly gained traction and praise, with eight other schools in Kerala and even one in Punjab adopting SPARKS A CHANGE IN CLASSROOMSDirector Vinesh Viswanathan, who helmed Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, said the idea shown briefly in the film was not entirely fictional. 'It was inspired by real experiences and practices we had seen in the past, especially during the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) years,' he said. The film depicted a Class 7 student proposing the new seating model after feeling left out as a backbencher, a moment that clearly resonated with educators and audiences alike. Vinesh shared that a school principal in Punjab watched the film on an OTT platform, introduced the layout, and even screened the movie for students, leading to further interest 'S VISION FUELS IMPLEMENTATIONThe transformation at RMVHSS was also catalysed by Kerala minister K B Ganesh Kumar, whose family manages the school. After previewing the film before its release, he discussed the idea with faculty and encouraged its pilot implementation in one classroom. Following overwhelmingly positive feedback, the model was extended to all lower primary classes.'We noticed improved student engagement and better teacher-student interaction,' said RMVHSS headmaster Sunil P Sekhar. 'The format not only eliminated backbench-related stigma but also helped teachers monitor all students more effectively.'TEACHERS PRAISE THE SHIFTMeera, a lower primary school teacher with nearly three decades of experience, shared her enthusiasm for the change. 'This setup allows me to connect with every child in the classroom. The students too seem more attentive and feel included,' she observed that students, especially in the formative years, benefited from direct teacher engagement and an inclusive classroom environment. They also highlighted that similar models are widely practised in countries like Finland and Norway, where student-centric classroom designs and lower student-teacher ratios are the REACTIONS AND WIDER CONVERSATIONSWhile the initiative has largely been met with appreciation, including a supportive tweet from business leader Anand Mahindra, it has also sparked debate. Some older students on social media questioned the feasibility of the model in overcrowded classrooms, citing issues of space. Responding to such concerns, Vinesh pointed out that classrooms with 80 students violate norms and should not exist under current educational minor criticism, the model's growing popularity signals a broader shift in how classrooms are being reimagined — prioritising inclusion, engagement, and student well-being over outdated more schools express interest in adopting this approach, Kerala could well lead a quiet revolution in reshaping not just where students sit, but how they learn.(With PTI inputs)- EndsTune InMust Watch
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
No backbenchers : This Kerala school has introduced new seating arrangements for classrooms
In a corner of South Kerala, a school is rewriting the rules of classroom dynamics — and it's catching the nation's eye. Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom, is experimenting to remove the idea of backbenchers but introducing a new seating arrangement for the classrooms. Influenced by a Malayalam movie, 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', the school has brought in an innovative seating arrangement. The school has done away with traditional rows of benches, replacing them with single rows aligned along the four walls of the classroom. In this set-up, every child becomes a frontbencher — and every voice counts. Eight schools in Kerala have already adopted this seating arrangement, and even a school in Punjab has adopted it, as mentioned news agency, PTI. 'I got a message that a school in Punjab has also adopted it after the principal saw the movie on the OTT platform. He also screened the movie for the students. I am happy that it got national attention,' Vinesh Viswanathan, director of the movie 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', told PTI. He said the movie had just one scene showing this arrangement, as an idea implemented by a 7th standard student in the film. 'It was his experience of being insulted sitting on the backbench that gave him such an idea. I never thought it would get such attention. It is not an idea created by us, but we did have such a seating arrangement earlier in classrooms, as part of the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), and we had lost it somewhere in between,' Vinesh said. The headmaster of the school, Sunil P Sekhar, told the news agency that this system enabled teachers to give equal attention to all students in the classroom and helped them monitor the students better. Moreover, it eliminated the concept of backbenchers and put all students at the forefront. He said many more schools have now shown interest in adopting this model. 'Lower primary classes are where students learn a lot of new things, and they naturally get rid of the concept or taboo of sitting on the backbenches. It also helps students to have a more direct interaction with the teachers,' he added. He said even Anand Mahindra has tweeted, saying it is a welcome move, though he personally likes the concept of backbenchers. (with inputs from PTI)
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Influenced by movie, Kerala schools to remove backbenchers through a new seating arrangement
Kollam, At Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School in Valakom in this South Kerala district, a proud tribute to former student G P Nandana greets visitors at the gate, celebrating her remarkable feat of securing the 2nd rank in Kerala and 47th nationally in the Civil Services Examinations. Influenced by movie, Kerala schools to remove backbenchers through a new seating arrangement But the school's acclaim doesn't end there, as it has also become a model for innovation in education, thanks to a unique classroom setup that eliminates the idea of backbenchers entirely. By rearranging seating to ensure every primary student gets equal attention, RVHSS has drawn admiration and imitation. Influenced by the recently released Malayalam movie, 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', the school has brought in an innovative seating arrangement where single row seats are aligned with the four walls of the classroom, so everyone sits in front benches. Eight schools in Kerala have already adopted this seating arrangement, and even a school in Punjab has adopted it. "I got a message that a school in Punjab has also adopted it after the principal saw the movie on the OTT platform. He also screened the movie for the students. I am happy that it got national attention," Vinesh Viswanathan, director of the movie 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', told PTI. He said the movie had just one scene showing this arrangement, as an idea implemented by a 7th standard student in the film. "It was his experience of being insulted sitting on the backbench that gave him such an idea. I never thought it would get such attention. It is not an idea created by us, but we did have such a seating arrangement earlier in classrooms, as part of District Primary Education Programme and we had lost it somewhere in between," Vinesh said. In fact, it was the farsightedness of Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, whose family runs RMVHSS, that paved the way to introducing this system in this school. Ganesh Kumar had watched the preview of 'Sthanarthi Sreekuttan', a year before its release and discussed the possibility of introducing it in primary classes in RMVHSS with the teachers. "Ganesh Kumar discussed this with us and his wife, who manages the school. We also agreed to start it in one class. The results we got were very positive and we introduced them to all lower primary classes," Sunil P Sekhar, Headmaster of RMVHSS, told PTI. He said this system enabled teachers to give equal attention to all students in the classroom and helped them monitor the students better. Moreover, it eliminated the concept of backbenchers and put all students at the forefront. He said many more schools have now shown interest in adopting this model. "Lower primary classes are where students learn a lot of new things and they naturally get rid of the concept or taboo of sitting on the backbenches. It also helps students to have a more direct interaction with the teachers," he added. Meera, a Lower Primary teacher, with more than 29 years of experience said she found this model more rewarding and productive compared to the conventional seating arrangements in school classrooms. "I am able to attend to each of the students in the classroom, and give better care to each of them. The students are also happy as they see the faces of all students in the classroom and also pay close attention to the teacher," Meera said. The teachers say that such systems are already practiced in countries like Finland and Norway with a better student-teacher ratio in schools. "I got some negative comments from the X platform, where some senior students have posted that they have 80 students in the classroom and how this system can be introduced in such a situation. "It is actually against our existing law to have so many students in a class, and the authorities are now taking action against that school," Vinesh Viswanath said. He said even Anand Mahindra has tweeted, saying it is a welcome move, though he personally likes the concept of backbenchers. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
The classroom without backbenches: How this Kerala school is changing the way children learn
Schools in Kerala are flipping the script of learning with a new seating arrangement in classrooms, which would eliminate the concept of 'backbenchers' and place all students on the front seat, quite literally. The Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVHSS) in Valakom in South Kerala's Kollam district has become a model for innovation in education after it introduced a unique classroom setup which ensures every primary student gets equal attention. Influenced by the recently released Malayalam movie Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, the school has brought in an innovative U, or V-shaped seating arrangement, where single row seats are aligned with the four walls of the classroom, such that everyone sits on the front benches. The move has inspired seven other schools across the state to adopt this model, alongside a school in Punjab. Several other schools have also shown their interest in adopting the model. The director of the movie Vinesh Viswanathan hailed the move by Kerala schools, and said, 'I got a message that a school in Punjab has also adopted it after the principal saw the movie on the OTT platform. He also screened the movie for the students. I am happy that it got national attention,' news agency PTI quoted him as saying. According to him, the movie had just one scene showing the arrangement, as an idea implemented by a student of Class VII, when he met with insults while sitting on the backbench. 'It is not an idea created by us, but we did have such a seating arrangement earlier in classrooms, as part of District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and we had lost it somewhere in between,' Vinesh said. Kerala Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, whose family runs the RVHSS, had watched the preview of the Malayalam movie a year before its release, and, had discussed the possibility of introducing it in primary classes of RVHSS with the teachers. 'Ganesh Kumar discussed this with us and his wife, who manages the school. We also agreed to start it in one class. The results we got were very positive and we introduced them to all lower primary classes,' Sunil P Sekhar, the headmaster of RMVHSS, told PTI. He said this system enabled teachers to give equal attention to all students in the classroom and helped them monitor the students better. Moreover, it eliminated the concept of backbenchers and put all students at the forefront. 'Lower primary classes are where students learn a lot of new things and they naturally get rid of the concept or taboo of sitting on the backbenches. It also helps students to have a more direct interaction with the teachers,' he added. While the traditional front-row seating arrangement has been implemented across the schools in the country, this new model may enable better interaction with teachers and active participation of students.
