Science toys, math labs to be added to primary education: Bobby Hajjaj
Bobby said greater emphasis was being placed on science, mathematics, design and creativity in primary education.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj today (9 August) said the government plans to introduce science toys and math labs in primary education to make science and mathematics more practical, creative and enjoyable for children.
"We do not want children to learn science only by reading books. We want them to learn through hands-on activities and play. With this goal, we have planned to include science toys in the primary curriculum," he said.
He made the remarks as chief guest at the Foundational Learning Action Tracker (FLAT) event organised by Unicef Bangladesh at Hotel Sheraton in Banani, Dhaka.
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Bobby said greater emphasis was being placed on science, mathematics, design and creativity in primary education.
"To make learning more engaging and practical, science toys and other hands-on learning materials will be incorporated into the curriculum," he said.
The government is also taking steps to introduce math labs in primary schools, where students will learn basic mathematical concepts — including shapes, multiplication, division, addition and subtraction — using different learning materials.
Emphasising the need to address gaps in foundational learning, the state minister said one of the key goals of primary education is to ensure that every child acquires basic reading, writing and numeracy skills.
He said students who move to higher grades without overcoming foundational learning gaps may face serious difficulties later in their education.
Referring to out-of-school children, Bobby said the government is implementing various programmes to bring them into the education system.
He said initiatives are also being taken to provide support, including free school uniforms, to help keep children in school.
The country's first free school uniform distribution programme will be inaugurated on 16 August, he added.
Speaking about the mid-day meal programme, Bobby said steps are being taken to address shortcomings and limitations identified during the implementation of the pilot project.
He said the success of a pilot project should not be measured only by the number of beneficiaries, but also by the problems identified during implementation and how effectively those problems are resolved.
The state minister further said primary education projects should not be driven only by broad visions, but should also be operational and grounded in practical realities.
While the government will maintain a long-term vision for education, each project should have clearly defined activities, an implementation framework, and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, he added.
