Abstract
The Society 5.0 era demands the world of education to equip students with critical, creative, and solution-oriented thinking skills in dealing with real problems. This study aims to explore the level of elementary school students' mathematical problem-solving abilities and identify the challenges and opportunities faced by teachers in building these skills in the Society 5.0 era. This study uses a mixed method approach with a sequential explanatory model. Quantitative data were obtained through problem-solving tests given to 60 fifth-grade students from two public elementary schools in Bandung Regency who were selected using stratified random sampling. The results showed that students' problem-solving abilities were in the moderate category (average = 21.6 out of a maximum score of 32), with the highest performance at the "implementing the plan" stage and the lowest at the "re-checking" stage. Qualitative data was obtained through interviews and observations of four mathematics teachers. Thematic analysis revealed challenges in the form of limited time, reflective materials, and the use of technology. However, teachers also saw opportunities through contextual approaches and digital platforms. These results demonstrate the importance of innovative, reflective, and technology-integrated mathematics learning designs to equip students with 21st-century skills.