No backbenchers, please! Hyderabad govt schools to adopt rectangle-shaped seating arrangement

Hyderabad: All government schools in Hyderabad will soon adopt a rectangle-shaped seating arrangement to keep students attentive and ensure equal participation in class.

The decision was taken by District Collector Hari Chandana Dasari, who got the idea from a Malayalam film ‘Sthanarthi Sreekuttan’, where no student is left unnoticed.

Idea came during school inspection

The Collector announced this change during her visit to the Tribal Welfare Water Sports Academy and Tribal Welfare Ashram Boys School in Bowenpally, Secunderabad. She inspected the schools’ infrastructure, sports training facilities, digital education, and hostel amenities.

Inspired by Kerala’s model

Explaining the concept to students, she said, “I saw this seating pattern in a Malayalam film and learned that many schools in Kerala follow it. The teacher sits at the centre while students sit around in a rectangle. This way, every student is visible and involved in class activities. Normally, students sitting at the back lose focus, but this arrangement prevents that.”

Tamil Nadu’s semi-circle plan faced health concerns

In Tamil Nadu, a similar idea of semi-circle seating resembling the Tamil letter ‘Pa’ faced criticism. Experts raised concerns about neck pain and eye strain among students. The plan was temporarily put on hold on Saturday and later reintroduced in select schools with fewer students and larger classrooms.

Hyderabad’s design is unique, says Collector

Clarifying the difference, Hari Chandana said, “Unlike Tamil Nadu’s semi-circle layout, our rectangle-shaped seating promotes student-centred learning. It ensures no child is ignored.”

Trial basis for now

She added that the new arrangement is experimental. “If students benefit from it, we will continue. If not, we can return to the traditional seating style,” she said.