Experts highlight benefits of ‘Engage Toolkit’ for child-centred learning
Teachers in traditional education systems often prioritise academic curricula and their own preferences.
In contrast, the Engage Toolkit places greater emphasis on children's qualities, opinions, and choices. Speakers at an event in Cox's Bazar stated that the toolkit would enhance creativity and intelligence among both Bangladeshi and Rohingya children.
The dissemination event, titled 'Engage Toolkit Dissemination', was organised by the Institute of Educational Development (IED) of Brac University at a local hotel on Wednesday 3 December 2025.
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Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Mohammad Shamsud Douza, attended as the chief guest. The welcome address was delivered by Rezaul Karim, Associate Director and Office-in-Charge of Brac's Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme (HCMP). The event was moderated by Saeed Mahmud Sani, Senior Manager of Partnerships and Communications at Brac IED, and Nadia Hossain, Senior Manager of Human Resources and Administration.
Presentations on the Engage Toolkit were delivered by Education Development Centre Principal Researcher, Megan Cylandar; New York University Professor, Hirokazu Yoshikawa; and researcher, Sharon Kim. Another presentation on the practical use of the toolkit was delivered by IED Senior Researcher, Shakila Yasmin, and UK-based Street Child researcher, Imtiaz Hriday. The event concluded with remarks from Brac IED Programme Head, Syeda Sazia Zaman.
Speakers stated that the Engage Toolkit can support the cognitive development of children from birth to age twelve, and promote child-centred, play-based learning in humanitarian contexts. They noted that the toolkit can be effectively used to strengthen pre-primary and primary education (0–12 years). Emphasis was placed on its implementation in Bangladesh.
Chief guest, Mohammad Shamsud Douza, stated that the toolkit is promising, but more focus should be placed on its practical application. He added that greater attention must be paid to the education and future of Rohingya children.
Developed with support from the LEGO Foundation, the toolkit is a collaboration involving RTI International, NYU Global TIES for Children, EDC, Street Child, AiOTU, Unlimited Child, and Jet Education.
Brac IED's research shows that Brac Play Labs and Humanitarian Play Labs strongly support play-based learning for children in Bangladesh and Uganda, reinforcing the relevance of the toolkit.
The Engage Toolkit is currently being implemented in five countries: Bangladesh, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Colombia.
