Chongqing—The first ASEAN "Play with Math" STEM Innovation Student Video Competition kicked off at Bashu Primary School in Chongqing. It brought together students from the ASEAN+3 countries (which includes the 10 ASEAN members along with China, Japan, and South Korea) to showcase their creativity and passion for mathematics through video projects.
The first ASEAN "Play with Math" STEM Innovation Student Video Competition kicked off at Bashu Primary School in Chongqing, bringing together students from ASEAN+3 countries (which includes the 10 ASEAN members along with China, Japan, and South Korea) to showcase their creativity and passion for mathematics through video projects. (Photo/The event organizer)
The competition builds upon the Bashu–Southeast Asia School Education Cooperation Program, jointly launched in April 2025 by Bashu Primary School, the UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (INRULED), and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization STEM Education Center (SEAMEO STEM-ED). The program aims to strengthen cooperation in basic education across Belt and Road countries through curriculum exchange, teacher training, and digital resource sharing.
Under this framework, Bashu Primary has developed the "Online Bashu (Overseas Edition)" digital platform and created the "Play with Math" curriculum series, leveraging its nationally awarded teaching achievements to promote digital empowerment and cross-border learning in international education.
Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman, Director of SEAMEO STEM-ED, said the initiative represents a new phase in China–Southeast Asia educational collaboration.
"We are confident that this competition will become a cornerstone of China–Southeast Asia cooperation in STEM education," he said.
Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman, Director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization STEM Education Center. (Photo/The event organizer)
He added that the program, recognized by Southeast Asian ministries of education as one of SEAMEO's flagship contributions, "offers teachers valuable opportunities for professional development, cross-cultural understanding, and the exchange of innovative ideas."
Zhao Yuchi, Executive Director of UNESCO INRULED, highlighted the project's broader significance for international education under the Belt and Road framework.
Zhao Yuchi, Executive Director of UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education. (Photo/The event organizer)
"This model, using curriculum as the medium and digital platforms as the bridge, provides a replicable and scalable approach for global collaboration," Zhao said. "We are especially delighted to host this event in Chongqing — a dynamic hub of innovation and a pivotal gateway in China's Belt and Road initiative, where educational and cultural ties with Southeast Asia continue to deepen."
During the launch ceremony, Bashu Primary signed cooperation agreements with two boarding schools in Thailand. The agreements marked a transition from conceptual cooperation to practical co-creation in classroom teaching.
During the launch ceremony, Bashu Primary signed cooperation agreements with Seekai Wittayakhom School and Thanakornsongkhor School in Thailand, exchanging school flags and course resource packages. (Photo/The event organizer)
"Education should not be an isolated practice. It must serve as a bridge between cultures. Through innovations like 'Play with Math,' we hope to let the wisdom of China's basic education truly flow — co-creating an open, symbiotic, and evolving global education ecosystem," said Ma Hong, Principal of Bashu Primary School Group.
Ma Hong, Party Secretary of the Party Committee of Bashu Primary School, and Bashu Primary School Group President. (Photo/The event organizer)
Following the ceremony, Chinese and Thai teachers held joint workshops showcasing exemplary lessons such as Reasoning and Seed Dispersal.
Following the ceremony, Chinese and Thai teachers held joint workshops showcasing exemplary lessons such as Reasoning and Seed Dispersal. (Photo/Deng Yan)
From a signed framework to tangible classroom impact, the "Play with Math" competition demonstrates how Chinese schools are transforming international partnerships into actionable learning outcomes. By combining digital tools, localized curriculum design, and cross-cultural collaboration, Bashu Primary School is contributing a distinctly Chinese model to the future of global education governance.