Chairs with writing pads to replace benches and desks; What’s changing in Kerala schools

Thiruvananthapuram: A proposal has been made to eliminate back benches in school classrooms by replacing traditional benches and desks with chairs equipped with writing pads. Classrooms should also be redesigned to move away from rigid square layouts and instead allow flexible arrangements suited to different needs, a government-appointed expert committee has recommended.

The report of the expert committee, appointed by SCERT on the directive of Education Minister V Sivankutty to introduce seating arrangements without back benches, was approved by the curriculum committee the other day.

Taking into account technological advancements and new teaching approaches, changes will be introduced in the design of school buildings in the future. The committee has recommended that classrooms be designed to ensure a minimum of 10 square feet of space per student. The General Education Department will soon issue orders to implement back-bench-free seating arrangements in classes from pre-primary to higher secondary levels starting from the next academic year.

According to the expert committee, chairs with writing pads will facilitate independent seating, group activities, and active interaction among students. The use of lightweight, easily movable tables and chairs will allow classrooms to be rearranged based on the nature of the subject being taught.

The committee also suggested moving away from the traditional “sit and listen” method and reorganising seating to support modern learning practices that involve standing, moving, and hands-on activities. It further recommended a major shift from assigning a fixed classroom to each batch to introducing a “subject-based classroom” system.