According to a Petrovietnam representative, the global economy is undergoing a significant shift driven by science and technology. This necessitates that countries prepare a workforce with digital literacy, scientific capabilities, and adaptability for future professions. This trend extends across various sectors, including energy, industry, and agriculture, where high-tech production and cultivation models are becoming increasingly common.

Tran Quang Dung, permanent deputy secretary of the Petrovietnam Party Committee, shares the significance of the STEM Innovation Petrovietnam program. Photo: PVCFC

Recognizing the early role of new knowledge in national development, Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) launched the "100 STEM classrooms" program nationwide. The program aims to create an educational environment that allows young generations to access science and technology from middle and high school. This strategic initiative links knowledge development with economic growth, reflecting the group's long-term vision for Vietnam's human resources.

As part of this campaign, PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer Joint Stock Company (PVCFC), a member unit operating in the agricultural sector, actively sponsors this model. The company focuses particularly on agricultural provinces, where science and technology can drive significant change. PVCFC's proactive involvement demonstrates its support for Petrovietnam and its perspective on modern agriculture. The company accurately identifies the industry's transformation needs, enabling it to make targeted, localized, and long-term impactful investments.

Students experience the STEM classroom space. Photo: PVCFC

The company implemented a STEM classroom model, valued at over 3 billion VND per room, at Vo Van Kiet High School in Ca Mau. Each room features comprehensive equipment for chemistry and biology experiments, programming robots, internet of things (IoT) models, modern microscopes, environmental sensor kits, and simulation software. To ensure effective operation, teachers receive specialized training, standardized operating procedures, and develop curriculum topics linked to real-world applications.

The PVCFC-sponsored facility was officially inaugurated on 15/11, becoming the 4th room in the company's campaign. The school is located in a specialized agricultural area, where students possess significant potential but have limited access to technology. Here, students program robots for the first time, become familiar with artificial intelligence (AI), and experience experimental models directly within the school. These experiences help them better visualize future careers connected to science and technology.

The school management assesses that the STEM room motivates teachers to innovate teaching methods, shifting from knowledge transmission to critical thinking. Subject teachers report having additional tools to develop integrated lessons, while students enjoy the "learning by doing, understanding by practicing" experience.

Delegates observe a robot programming practical session - one of the key activities in the STEM classroom sponsored by the company. Photo: PVCFC

Previously, PVCFC delivered three classrooms in Dong Thap. Additionally, the company is completing one room in Thanh Hoa and one in Hung Yen. PVCFC also prepares to implement two more rooms in Ca Mau and three in Tay Ninh. In total, eleven STEM classrooms will become operational this year, demonstrating the company's serious and focused investment within Petrovietnam's 100 STEM classroom program.

According to a company representative, prioritizing provinces with a high proportion of agriculture reflects a deep approach: investing knowledge in areas that will become the industry's key workforce. When students in purely agricultural regions access science and technology early, the industry's transformation occurs not only in production methods but also in human capabilities. This aligns with the message "nurturing new knowledge - creative energy for Vietnam's future." Accordingly, new knowledge is not a supplementary factor but a prerequisite for agriculture to enter a development phase based on technology and data.

"When young generations in agricultural regions gain access to scientific thinking and modern learning methods, we are not merely supporting education; we are building a foundation for Vietnam's agricultural sector to step into the future with a more confident and proactive workforce," the representative stated.

The representative added that in the context of national capacity transformation, a company's systematic and in-depth educational involvement, such as PVCFC's, helps build a knowledge foundation. From STEM classrooms in Dong Thap, Thanh Hoa, Hung Yen to Ca Mau or Tay Ninh, new knowledge is being sown in remote areas that need change the most.

In many localities, especially rural areas, STEM education remains a significant challenge due to insufficient facilities, inconsistent laboratories, and inadequate teacher training in integrated teaching methods. This limits students' opportunities for practical experimentation, a core element for developing scientific thinking and creativity.

Representatives from Ca Mau province leadership, Petrovietnam leadership, and delegates perform the inauguration ceremony, handing over the STEM classroom, valued at over 3 billion VND, to Vo Van Kiet High School. Photo: PVCFC

In contrast, in many countries, STEM education has become a core focus of the general curriculum. This method integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to help students develop logical, critical thinking, evidence-based problem-solving, and the ability to apply knowledge to real-world situations. Beyond knowledge acquisition, this model emphasizes "learning by doing," considering experimentation, testing, and creativity central to the learning process.

International studies also indicate that students who access STEM early exhibit better technological adaptability. These students also demonstrate a deeper understanding of problems and tend to choose careers related to science, technology, and engineering in the future.

A PVCFC representative stated that Vietnam's agriculture is entering a green transformation phase, requiring a workforce capable of data analysis, smart equipment operation, and understanding biological and environmental processes. This gap is precisely why an agricultural company like Ca Mau Fertilizer chooses to invest in this modern educational approach. Beyond a "social contribution" perspective, the company views this modern education model as a strategic mission: developing human resources for the future of the agricultural sector itself.

"Because when science, data, and technology become the new pillars of production, today's young people will be the agricultural engineers, environmental experts, technology analysts, or new-generation farmers who will directly operate Vietnam's smart agriculture in the future," the representative said.

Hoang Dan