National award for Punjab teacher who created a virtual physics lab for students

A teacher in Punjab’s Patiala has been honored with a national award for creating a virtual physics lab for his students. Dinesh Kumar, a 52-year-old physics teacher at a government school, was selected for this prestigious recognition. The award will be presented by the President of India during Teacher’s Day celebrations on September 5.

With a PhD in Physics, Kumar has been teaching at the historic Government Victoria Girls Senior Secondary School for over a decade. His innovative approach to teaching physics has been instrumental in dispelling students' fears and making the subject more accessible. Utilizing his computer programming skills, Kumar developed a virtual physics lab that allows students to conduct practical experiments even without physical apparatus.

In addition to the virtual lab, Kumar has created more than a hundred teaching aids to further enhance students' understanding of physics concepts. Despite holding a UGC-NET qualification, he has continued to work as a school teacher, driven by a passion for teaching and a desire to help underprivileged students. In 2020, Kumar was also awarded the State Award by the Punjab government.

Kumar's teaching methods involve relating physics topics to students' daily lives, using teaching aids to clarify concepts, and providing extra coaching to underprivileged students. He has also demonstrated his virtual lab during various science seminars and college events. Currently, Kumar instructs around 80 students from classes 11 and 12, often extending his support during summer vacations for additional guidance.

Many of his former students are now pursuing higher education in fields such as engineering, pharmacy, and nursing at top universities and colleges.