Don't let students fear math.

According to Master Nguyen Anh Tuan, Principal of Chu Van An Secondary School (Hanoi), many students have traditionally been reluctant to study mathematics, considering it dry, difficult, and tedious. However, since the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program, which integrates mathematics with natural science subjects and topics relevant to real life, students have become more enthusiastic.

However, during his time as principal, Mr. Tuan realized that the new curriculum had many changes and high demands on competency-based teaching and practical application, posing difficulties and challenges for both teachers and students.

In constructing tests and assessments, teachers also face difficulties due to a lack of high-quality question banks. Questions and exercises testing practical application are sometimes forced and many situations are unrealistic. Therefore, although students are more enthusiastic, their logical thinking and reasoning skills remain weak. Most students focus on theoretical application problems and are hesitant to tackle "unfamiliar" problems.

“Mathematics is not only a fundamental science that trains logical thinking, but also an important tool for forming and developing problem-solving skills and the ability to apply them in practice,” said Mr. Pham Duc Tam, Director of the Institute for Applied STEM Research and Human Resource Training (IASTEM).

Based on his teaching experience, Mr. Thieu Quang Tung, a math teacher at Cau Giay Secondary School ( Hanoi ), believes that applied mathematics is present in lessons but has not been widely implemented in the curriculum. The content is mainly integrated into topics such as probability, statistics, geometry, and algebra.

According to Mr. Tung, applied mathematics helps students develop problem-solving skills, increase their interest in learning, connect mathematics with real life, and prepare them for future careers related to mathematics. However, the difficulties include a lack of specialized training for teachers, insufficient time, and pressure to achieve high exam results. Meanwhile, students are not yet familiar with practical thinking and open-ended problems.

Teacher Tung shared that some effective methods for teaching mathematics include: creating scenarios, integrating technology, differentiating according to students' abilities; and teaching through games and experiential activities.

Be careful when taking the exam.

At the recent workshop "Teaching Applied Mathematics in High Schools" in Hanoi, Professor Tran Van Tan from Hanoi Pedagogical University stated that if mathematics is taught purely in a abstract way, students will only be working with a surreal world, easily leading to fatigue and boredom. Therefore, practical application examples will make lessons more engaging and stimulate students' curiosity and exploration. However, he observed that some teachers today create forced questions requiring practical application in their exams.

Therefore, Professor Tan warns that when constructing "real-world" scenarios in math problems or exams, high school teachers need to be extremely cautious, respecting established scientific laws and avoiding arbitrarily creating unfounded rules. Because inaccurate simulations can easily lead to misunderstandings and distort students' understanding of the world.

Deputy Director of the Department of General Education (Ministry of Education and Training) Ta Ngoc Tri emphasized that general education is where the country's young workforce is prepared for the future. Therefore, Mr. Tri hopes that general education teachers will innovate their classroom lessons to connect with real life, incorporating relatable stories so that students can see the connection between mathematics and practice and develop a greater love for the subject.