State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj attended a workshop titled “Learning through Play” as a special guest at a city hotel. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Aug 18, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj today stressed teaching children through play and enjoyment instead of rote learning in primary education.

“It is possible to develop critical thinking, problem-solving and thinking abilities among children with learning through play,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks while speaking as the special guest at a workshop titled “Learning through Play” on information booklet review, organised by the National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE) in a city hotel, said a press release.

He noted effective and sustainable education cannot be ensured merely by making children memorise lessons, saying “If opportunities for learning are created through sports and various activities in enjoyable surroundings, children’s learning ability, and creativity as well as thinking skills will develop further.”

He added local games should be incorporated into the curriculum and textbooks, while school infrastructure should also be developed in a child-friendly manner suitable for play-based learning.

Bobby Hajjaj said NAPE and its partner organisations have conducted research and collected information on sports and games at the local level. So far, 412 games have been documented, which can be used in schools through students’ participation. 

Besides, work has also been done on how more than 700 locally practised games can be regulated and incorporated into the school curriculum, he revealed.

Referring to the experiences of China and Japan, Bobby Hajjaj said toys and games have been integrated with different subjects of the curriculum in those countries. 

Textbooks and curricula specify which toy or game should be used to teach which chapter of which subject in a particular class, he said, adding that in this regard, textbook publishers, toy manufacturers and curriculum developers work together.

Informing that such an initiative would also be taken in Bangladesh, the state minister said discussions had been held with the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) on the matter.

“Very soon, necessary steps will be taken after sitting with the relevant stakeholders on how sports and toy-based learning can be incorporated more effectively into primary education,” he said.

He said just formulating a curriculum would not be enough and its proper implementation must also be ensured. 

Accountability must be ensured at every stage of the construction and management of classrooms, play areas, learning environment and infrastructure in schools. Creating a joyful, safe and effective learning environment for children is one of the key objectives of primary education reform, he said.

Minister for Education and Primary and Mass Education Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon was the chief guest at the programme. Director General of the National Academy for Primary Education Farid Ahmad presided over the programme.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, Save the Children Country Director Suman Sengupta and Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Shahina Ferdousi were present as special guests.