Haileybury Bhaluka, Cambridge host summit on child safeguarding

The Safeguarding Leadership Summit 2026, jointly hosted by Haileybury Bhaluka and Cambridge University Press & Assessment at Le Méridien Dhaka, focused on strengthening child protection in Bangladesh's educational institutions and brought together education leaders, teachers and safeguarding professionals.

Held under the theme "Stronger Together, Safer Tomorrow – Keeping Children Safe in Bangladesh", the summit focused on safeguarding practices, students' mental and social wellbeing, and effective institutional systems, according to a press release.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj attended as the chief guest and delivered the keynote address.

Participants stressed that an educational institution's success could not be measured solely by academic results. A safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment was equally important to educational excellence.

They called for safeguarding to become an integral part of school culture, with policies supported by everyday practice and clear responsibilities.

In opening remarks, Cambridge University Press & Assessment Country Lead Sarwat Reza emphasised the importance of broadening the understanding of school excellence beyond academic performance and placing student safety and wellbeing at the centre of educational leadership.

Bobby Hajjaj highlighted schools' responsibility for students' safety and wellbeing alongside their academic development. He called for environments where students feel safe, supported and able to raise concerns.

"The current government has undertaken various far-reaching initiatives on a massive scale to improve the quality of education tirelessly. Beyond enhancing academic standards, the government is committed to partnering with all educational institutions to improve infrastructure and ensure a safe, healthy environment for students. At the same time, emphasis is being placed on increasing student engagement with the community," he said.

Haileybury Bhaluka Founding Head Master Simon O'Grady discussed safeguarding in Bangladesh's educational context. He emphasised the need for school leaders to be visible, curious, courageous, consistent, informed by evidence and committed to continuous learning.

His address highlighted challenges including physically and psychologically harmful disciplinary practices, declining attendance and completion rates at the secondary level, students' reluctance to report concerns, and cultural barriers that can prevent young people from questioning authority.

Speakers said safeguarding policies alone were insufficient. Teachers, staff and school leaders needed to understand what action to take when a concern arose, whom to report it to, how to document it and what follow-up was required.

O'Grady also led an interactive session titled "What Would You Do If...?", inviting education leaders to discuss realistic safeguarding scenarios and appropriate responses.

The session linked safeguarding principles to situations schools could encounter in everyday practice, highlighting the importance of preparedness and accountability across an institution.

Scenarios covered student self-harm, concerns or complaints about school staff conduct, bullying and inclusion.

Participants exchanged views on immediate responses, reporting responsibilities, confidentiality, the collection and preservation of relevant information and evidence, and the provision of longer-term support to students.

The summit urged education leaders to strengthen safeguarding systems within their institutions by defining responsibilities, creating safe opportunities to raise concerns, expanding professional training and regularly reviewing child protection arrangements.

The organisers said safeguarding could not rest with a single individual or be confined to a policy document. Effective practice required leadership, accountability, evidence-based decisions, professional development and shared responsibility across the school community.

They said the summit reflected a collective commitment to strengthening safeguarding and creating safer, more inclusive, and supportive learning environments for children and young people in Bangladesh.