Physics teaching in the entry level: Prospects and challenges in the context of rural India

Indian science has produced many world class physicists that reflect the countries time tested commitment toward physics. In the last twenty five years the country has made a continuous effort toward producing world class scientists and technologists. The governments have been giving special attention toward science education by establishing new autonomous institutes along with inviting private sector investment in technical education for producing engineers in large number to meet the global need. A steady growth of about 20% in the enrolment in higher education has been seen in last few decades most of which is in the area of science and technology. Around 70% of the work force of the country lives in rural area. As a result of prospects in the job scenario through studying engineering and technology there has been an increased enthusiasm leading to large scale enrolment for studying physics and mathematics in the high school level even in the rural areas. Large scale student enrolment needs augmented infrastructure and trained manpower for quality education at the entry level. The effort of the provincial and the central governments in spending money to develop the infrastructure and manpower is a lot but inadequate in the context of the developing economy and large population of the country. Private sector investments in the high school science education are mainly available in the urban areas. So, to provide good quality physics education at the rural areas the physics teaching community has to find cost effective and innovative way of teaching that motivates the students beyond cracking entrance examination for professional services. This may be achieved by popularizing physics education research in the area of developing good text books along with low cost innovative experiments with no further delay.