Q: Is the statement of the problem part of the Introduction and what tense should I use when writing it?

A statement of the problem is usually used in a research proposal to establish and outline the problem the proposed study wants to explore. Therefore, a good statement of the problem helps you write a good Introduction section because this section too explains the context of the study and states the gap in the knowledge you have studied.  

Coming to the verb tense to be used when writing a statement of the problem, it is likely to have a mix of present and past tense, majorly, and even future tense because it:

• states the existing knowledge
• presents a gap in the knowledge
• hints at the consequences and discusses whether the proposed study would lead to further research

Going through the following excellent resources will help you understand this in further detail:

• The basics of writing a statement of the problem for your research proposal [Downloadable template]
• Using past and present tenses in research writing