Experts raise concerns of strain on neck and eye in U-seating arrangement in schools

Even as the Tamil Nadu School Education Department continues to mull about the U-seating arrangement in classrooms, experts and teachers have raised health concerns that would arise due to the seating arrangement.

The two main concerns doctors have raised is that the seating arrangement would lead to a strain on the neck and eyes especially on those who are seated in the corners of the ‘U’ as they would have to crane their neck to view the boards.

According to the circular issued by the department, the seating arrangement would allow teachers’ mobility to interact with every student while every student will have a clear view of the teacher, blackboard, and others. This arrangement would promote discussion, peer learning, and support collaboration.

Impact on spine and vision health

Mohit Muttha, consultant – Spine Surgeon at Manipal Hospitals Kharadi, Pune, pointed out that the students will not be able to sustain the turned head for longer than 20 minutes. “The joint at the base of the head is responsible for the turn movement. Longer than 20 minutes, the student will be required to move their head to the other side so that the muscle does not strain,” he said.

Highlighting that the neck is primarily only for looking forward, he added that prolonged stress on the joints will only lead to early degeneration. “This would also apply to teachers as they would most likely address the classroom from the centre and hence having to fully turn their neck to address everybody,” he said.

Agreeing with him, S. Suhasini, consultant ophthalmologist at MGM Healthcare said, “Central fixation of the cornea in the eye is important to view objects properly, however when the child has to see from the peripheral vision it’ll cause a strain. This is even more difficult for children with spectacles as only the centre of the lenses would have the right fixture for them to see.”

She also added that as the child would have to turn her or his head, it would also lead to the head tilt and hence, strain on the spine and neck.

 Call for ergonomic alternatives and better infrastructure

The doctors do agree that U-seating arrangement has benefits as research showed that in small groups of 15-20 people it enhanced concentration and peer learning. “If there were three smartboards, one each on the corners or swivel chairs, it would eliminate the strain on the body. Ideally, the step-seating in U-shape with a curved board as seen in college classrooms is ergonomically the better seating alignment,” Dr. Suhashini added.

Meanwhile, teachers are waiting further instruction on implementing the new alignment in classrooms. “The strength in middle school classrooms in towns are high. The infrastructure is lacking. Further, some parents have raised health concerns arising due to the seating arrangement. We are waiting for further instructions from the department to take any step,” said S. Mayil, State general secretary, Tamil Nadu Primary Teachers Federation.