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In a move aimed at reshaping classroom dynamics and enhancing student engagement, the Tamil Nadu School Education Department has issued an order mandating the implementation of a "ப"-shape (tamil letter ‘pa’) or U-shape seating arrangement in all government schools.
The directive dated July 11, circulated by the Director of School Education, instructs Chief Educational Officers across districts to ensure that all headmasters adopt the new layout based on student strength and available classroom space.
“A convenient seating arrangement in a classroom plays a vital role in enhancing learning, promoting interaction, and ensuring comfort,” the order stated. It further added that “engagement begins with arrangement – the ‘ப’-shape opens the floor for open minds.” By eliminating traditional back rows, the government hopes to create a setting where “every student will be in the front row”, the order further said.
The order lists several benefits of the new seating plan, including improved visibility and eye contact, better teacher mobility, increased student participation, and a more inclusive atmosphere. The layout allows all students to face each other and the teacher, encouraging communication and collaboration. “In the classroom, when every voice can be seen and heard, learning will become a conversation, not a lecture,” the order said.
The U-shape arrangement also allows space in the centre of the classroom, making it suitable for demonstrations, role plays, science experiments, and other interactive lessons. The circular also explains how such an inclusive design fosters peer learning, can reduce the feeling of hierarchy, and encourage even shy students to participate in classes.
This reform echoes similar developments in Kerala, where schools began adopting a semi-circular seating format inspired by the 2024 Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan. The film, which portrays the story of a backbencher who proposes the U-shape seating during a school election, sparked a real-life classroom redesign in multiple institutions. Among the first to adopt the model was Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School (RVGHSS) in Valakom, where the state transport minister KB Ganesh Kumar is part of the management.
The director of Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, Vinesh Viswanath, expressed surprise at the film’s influence. “We never expected this kind of social impact. We are happy that the movie is being discussed nationally,” he said at the time.