Empowering Educators to Advance STEM Learning

Teachers play a crucial role in preparing future generations to navigate the challenges of the 21st century. Recognizing their importance, SEAMEO STEM-ED, in partnership with Chevron’s education initiative, has developed the Southeast Asian Teacher Education Program (SEA-TEP). This program focuses on advancing STEM education and teacher training in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia.

Research highlights key weaknesses in pre-service teacher training, such as inadequate focus on effective teaching techniques, limited classroom strategies, and insufficient capacity for delivering high-quality STEM lessons. Addressing these gaps, SEA-TEP, launched in January 2023, introduces professional training, innovative curricula, and collaborative approaches to improve teaching standards. Central to the program is the integration of STEM competencies using Three-Dimensional Learning, which emphasizes scientific practices, core ideas, and crosscutting concepts. Teachers apply strategies like claim-evidence-reasoning and modelling to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and evidence-based argumentation.

The program’s adaptability to local contexts is a key factor in its success. Thailand showcased SEA-TEP’s impact during the launch of the Thai-US Joint-Degree Sandbox for STEM Teacher Education. The country’s partner universities implemented SEA-TEP’s framework into their curriculum, setting a new benchmark for integrating STEM-focused methods into teacher training.

Educators from other regions have shared similar success stories. In Kazakhstan, the program transformed teacher training by aligning it with global standards. Mr. Daryn Saiynov, from Caravan of Knowledge, noted the program’s success in overcoming traditional subject-based teaching methods, resulting in interdisciplinary approaches and recognition for participating educators. One teacher earned a national award as a top educator, inspiring further efforts to expand the program across universities.

Indonesia also adopted the SEA-TEP framework to address its educational needs. Dr. Murni Ramli from Sebelas Maret University explained how the program helped redesign STEM lessons around local issues like climate change and water quality. Training sessions and open-class practices are reshaping teaching methods, fostering critical thinking, and preparing students for global challenges. Plans are underway to extend the program across the nation.

Building on the achievements of the Chevron Enjoy Science initiative in Thailand, SEAMEO STEM-ED leveraged its expertise to establish SEA-TEP. Zamira Kanapyanova from Chevron emphasized the importance of STEM education in preparing students for real-world challenges. The SEA-TEP program continues this mission by creating evidence-based policies and fostering collaboration across countries.

Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman, Director of SEAMEO STEM-ED, highlighted SEA-TEP’s scalability as a sustainable model for transforming teacher education. The program aims to train educators to develop STEM-focused curricula and build a strong foundation for the future workforce. SEA-TEP’s next phase focuses on integrating STEM principles into pre-service training and supporting in-service teachers through collaborative learning communities. Expansion into more countries is planned to strengthen regional cooperation and further improve teacher education.