Enhancing STEM teaching competency for mathematics teachers in Vietnam

The paper presents mathematics teachers’ perception of STEM education competency as well as some solutions to enhance their competencies. The research has concentrated on investigating teachers’ perception of the meaning of STEM education, the understanding of STEM skills and competency, teaching STEM activities in math class. We also designed STEM activities and introduced a training course for developing teachers’ competency. The research results have shown that teachers’ perception of STEM education competency and some solutions for enhancing STEM teaching competency for math teachers. STEM competencies improve the personal scientific literacy of citizens, enhance international economic competitiveness and are an essential foundation for responsible citizenship, including the ethical custodianship of our planet. In this article, we address an element of this concern by examining the role of mathematics within STEM education and how it might be advanced through three interdisciplinary approaches: 21st century skills, mathematical modeling, and education for responsible citizenship.