Thiruvananthapuram | July 12, 2025 — In a progressive move aimed at promoting inclusivity and equality in classrooms, Kerala’s Education Department has directed schools to discontinue traditional front-back seating arrangements.
The new policy encourages rotational seating, ensuring that no student is permanently assigned to the back or front rows. The decision aims to reduce the psychological impact of being labeled a “backbencher,” a term often associated with disinterest or underperformance.
The directive is part of a broader classroom reform under the state’s “Hello Teacher” initiative, focusing on participative learning, improved student engagement, and fair treatment of all children irrespective of academic performance.
Teachers have been instructed to rotate students weekly or bi-weekly, giving everyone an equal opportunity to participate from different positions in the class.
Officials say the move will boost self-confidence, classroom discipline, and student-teacher interaction, especially for those who previously felt left out.
Kerala, already known for having one of India’s most advanced education systems, is expected to implement the policy across all government and aided schools in the coming academic session.
