Patna, June 6: The boom in coaching institutes in Patna is a result of aggressive marketing strategy adopted by business-minded people and not an initiative to help students, feel experts.

Eminent physics teacher from IIT-Kanpur, H.C. Verma who was in Patna, said: “The tall claims of the coaching institutes of taking Patna ahead of Kota in Rajasthan is not going to help students. It will not create a conducive academic atmosphere in Patna.”

Verma, was in the state capital to participate in the meeting of Senior Resource Persons’ of Utsahi Physics Teachers’ Group, a body involved in innovative physics teaching.

The eminent physics teacher, whose book Concept of Physics is one of the most sought after volume for students preparing for engineering entrance examinations, said students should give emphasis on concept building on all topics during preparation of engineering examination.

The physics teacher, who is also an alumnus of Patna Science College, felt sorry over the poor state of affairs in the science college. Verma said there was a time when Patna Science College was considered the best in eastern India but in the past few years things have taken a downward trend.

Verma said the shortage of quality teachers is one of the reasons behind the downfall of the college. He said: “During early 1980s there were around 35 teachers in the physics department, which has come down to just five or six in the recent years as there has been no appointment of teachers in the physics department.”

Sharing his experience, Verma said that the Patna Science College was considered as one of the best colleges in eastern India, which is even reflected in the state of architecture being built during the British period.

The classrooms were well connected with water pipes and gas pipes as during teaching, the teachers were expected to perform practicals so that students could understand the subject in a better way.

Verma said that the interest in pure sciences is dwindling across the world. “This trend needs to be revised if we want a sustained development in the world.”

Verma, along with teachers from various universities in India has initiated a pro- ject on innovative physics teaching.

The Utsahi group of teachers met for the third time. Earlier meetings were held in Agra and Chandigarh.