STEM helps young talents take their first steps.

- Starting from the 2024-2025 school year, the provincial education sector has implemented a comprehensive STEM education program integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into the preschool curriculum, aiming to create positive changes in the content, methods, and learning environment for children.

A lesson for children at Happy School Preschool.

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc, Deputy Head of the Preschool and Primary Education Department of the Department of Education and Training, said: To effectively implement this orientation, the Department has developed a plan, advised the Department's leadership to issue guidelines, and directed units to organize integrated education activities based on the STEM orientation, conduct experimental lessons, design demonstration learning materials, and organize experience sharing in cluster professional activities. In addition, the sector has organized 105 training courses for 100% of preschool administrators and teachers throughout the province. The training content is systematically structured, including skills in designing activities, building classroom environments, and selecting learning materials suitable for each locality, thereby helping teachers gradually master the methods and proactively and flexibly integrate STEM education into children's daily activities.

In parallel with mass training, the department selected six preschools to implement pilot programs at the provincial level, aiming to establish model examples, create practical learning materials, and provide a basis for wider implementation.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the education sector organized over 24,000 STEM-related lessons at the preschool level; 108 institutions organized workshops and competitions for teachers implementing STEM activities with nearly 4,000 participating officials and teachers; 1,623 STEM corners were established in classrooms; 191 institutions designed learning materials from recycled materials; and 170 units applied software and videos to learning activities. Simultaneously, end-of-year assessments showed that the percentage of children actively participating in activities reached over 95%, an increase of more than 10% compared to the previous school year.

Hoang Van Thu Kindergarten (Ky Lua Ward) is one of the exemplary schools. In designing its activities, the school regularly encourages teachers to flexibly integrate fields such as science exploration, mathematics, technology, and art; while also utilizing readily available materials such as cardboard boxes, ice cream sticks, plastic bottles, and dried seeds to create teaching aids and stimulate children's creativity. Hứa Minh Khang, a 5-year-old student at the school, shared: "During class, the teachers guided me in making toys, using materials like ice cream sticks, bottle caps, and cardboard to assemble models according to my ideas. Making toys with my friends was very enjoyable, and I want to come to school every day."

Starting from pilot models, STEM education has gradually spread throughout the preschool education system in the province. Many institutions, both public and private, have proactively developed implementation models suitable to their specific conditions. According to statistics, 100% of preschools in the province have developed plans to integrate STEM education into their school curricula, gradually creating a foundation for a new approach to organizing educational activities for children.

At Happy School Kindergarten (Dong Kinh Ward), a private institution with nearly 400 children enrolled annually, the STEM education model has been systematically implemented with 26 specialized lessons for three age groups. In addition, classes proactively integrate STEM content into outdoor activities, learning corners, and daily routines. Ms. Nguyen Thu Huong, the school principal, shared: "Thanks to this flexible and creative approach, mid-term and end-of-term assessments show a significant increase in the percentage of children confidently expressing ideas and completing tasks in groups, reaching nearly 100%. Simultaneously, children's thinking, memory, and language skills have clearly developed through themed exploration activities."

Not only in schools in more developed areas, but also in remote and rural communes, teachers are flexibly applying STEM education methods to suit local conditions. Ms. Phung Thi Hong Loan, a teacher of 4-year-olds at Khanh Khe Kindergarten (Van Quan district), shared: "Utilizing readily available materials such as cardboard, empty boxes, and various seeds, the classroom has designed visual aids, creating opportunities for children to experience and create their own learning products. According to observations, after implementing the STEM model, the percentage of children actively participating in class increased to over 90%, a significant increase compared to the beginning of the school year (when it was just over 70%), and their cooperation, self-care, and proactive group work skills have also improved considerably."

Summarizing the results of implementation across the province, in the 2024-2025 school year, the education sector organized over 24,000 STEM-related lessons at the preschool level; 108 institutions organized workshops and competitions for teachers implementing STEM activities with nearly 4,000 participating officials and teachers; 1,623 STEM corners were built in classrooms; 191 institutions designed learning materials from recycled materials; and 170 units applied software and videos to learning activities. At the same time, the end-of-year assessment showed that the percentage of children actively participating in activities reached over 95%, an increase of more than 10% compared to the previous school year. Many children were more confident in speaking, expressing ideas, collaborating in groups, and showing clear enthusiasm when coming to class.

Currently, the province has 231 preschools with approximately 50,000 children. Building on the foundations already achieved, the education sector will continue to direct these institutions to maintain and expand the implementation of STEM education in a practical, comprehensive manner, tailored to the specific conditions of each locality and school. This will contribute to improving the quality of preschool education throughout the province.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/stem-lan-toa-tu-lop-hoc-mam-non-5055057.html