Mathematics teaching in Vietnam in the context of technological advancement and the need of connecting to the real world

Abstract

In the context of fundamental and radical reform of education and training in Vietnam, the educational goals are changing towards students' competencies instead of knowledge and skills for students as in the past. Vietnam's mathematics curriculum is going to innovate after 2018. Mathematical education constructs the connection between mathematical ideas, between mathematics and other subjects, and between mathematics and real life. This article investigates two significant issues in mathematics teaching in Vietnam: the purpose of learning mathematics among Vietnamese pupils and mathematics teaching methods concerning reality. Based on the findings from these questions, the article proposes some recommendations for mathematics teaching regarding the methods and appropriate extent to which teachers should connect mathematics to the real world in the context of rapid science and technology development as well as the adjustments to the current mathematical content at schools. Also, this article presents some examples of exploring practical content problems and designing real-life contexts in mathematics teaching to develop students' competency in Vietnam. The researchers also suggest that Vietnam's national mathematics curriculum needs reforming to keep up with the pace of development in the field of information and communication in the country.