State Minister for Primary and Mass Education, Bobby Hajjaj, addressed a program organized by BRAC and the LEGO Foundation at a city hotel as the chief guest. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 13, 2026 (BSS) – State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj today said the government is working to make primary education more effective and science-oriented, announcing plans to nurture a generation equipped with scientific thinking through STEM-based and play-based learning from the earliest stages of education.

“Education is the greatest investment for a nation. Therefore, the government is committed to strengthening primary education and making it more science-oriented,” he said while addressing a programme organised by BRAC and the LEGO Foundation at a city hotel as the chief guest.

The state minister said the country must move beyond the fear of mathematics and embrace science as the foundation of its future.

He stressed the need to create a learning environment that encourages scientific inquiry and innovation from the primary level through play-based education, saying there is no alternative to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for building the Bangladesh of the future.

Referring to the government's education vision, Hajjaj said education would be the country's biggest investment, with quality primary education at its core.

He noted that only around 20 percent of higher secondary students currently study in the science stream, which he said is insufficient for building a knowledge-based and technology-driven nation.

“Students must develop an interest in STEM subjects from the primary level so that they can confidently choose science-based education in the future,” he said.

The state minister said the government is closely observing play-based education initiatives implemented by BRAC, the LEGO Foundation and other development partners.

He said successful models from these programmes would be evaluated for possible introduction of play labs and STEM laboratories in government primary schools, adding that a pilot project covering several hundred schools is under consideration.

Hajjaj also said the government is working to establish a common minimum standard of education for all streams, including government schools, Bangla and English medium institutions, and madrasas.

“A national benchmark will be established for teachers, curriculum, infrastructure and the overall quality of education,” he said.

The state minister observed that learning outcomes in language, mathematics and English at the primary level are yet to reach the desired standard. 

To address this challenge, he said, the government is placing the highest priority on education reform, updated curricula, technology-enabled learning, play-based education and STEM-focused teaching.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, representatives of BRAC and other NGOs, and members of the media were present at the programme.