State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has stressed the importance of using learning toys and hands-on activities to make classroom learning more enjoyable and assess students’ foundational skills.

He made the remarks during visits to Mahutuli Renaissance Government Primary School and Proshonno Poddar Lane Government Primary School in Old Dhaka’s Kotwali area on Monday, 26 October, according to a ministry press release.

During the visits, the state minister distributed learning toys among students and observed their learning abilities through play. He also assessed their Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills.

Hajjaj observed that students could grasp different concepts more easily through learning toys and hands-on materials than through conventional classroom teaching. Such methods also help increase children’s interest, enthusiasm and participation in learning, he said.

He said improving primary education requires more than ensuring school infrastructure and student attendance. Authorities must regularly assess what children are learning, whether they are achieving expected learning outcomes and how effectively teachers are conducting lessons.

He added that school visits would focus on students’ actual learning abilities alongside infrastructure, classrooms, furniture, washrooms, teacher attendance and teaching methods.

The state minister also stressed identifying gaps in foundational skills, particularly in mathematics and English, and addressing them through classroom-based assessments and engaging, participatory activities suited to children.

Drawing on observations from school visits, he said the ministry would consider expanding the use of learning toys and other effective teaching methods.

During the visit, Hajjaj also discussed recruitment to vacant head teacher posts at government primary schools. Around 34,500 such positions are vacant nationwide, he said, adding that discussions were underway with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to expedite recruitment.

Filling the vacancies would help strengthen school administration and leadership, he said.

The government is also considering promoting experienced and competent teachers in line with existing recruitment rules and PSC procedures. Recruitment of assistant teachers would be reconsidered after the head teacher recruitment process is completed, he added.

Officials from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Directorate of Primary Education and the local administration were present during the visits.