Play-based learning should get top priority for children’s cognitive development, speakers say

Speakers at a BRAC-organised workshop have called for the highest priority to be given to play-based learning to foster children’s creativity and cognitive development. They stressed that, alongside Bangladeshi children, Rohingya children living in camps in Cox’s Bazar require greater attention to health, safety and social values to support their overall development.

The observations came at a workshop titled “Building Futures Through Play: Stakeholder Engagement for Early Childhood Development”, held on Wednesday at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar. The event was organised by BRAC’s Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme (HCMP), with support from the Denmark-based LEGO Foundation, in partnership with the US-based SESAME WORKSHOP. The workshop aimed to highlight the importance of play in early childhood development, present key recommendations, and strengthen stakeholder engagement.

Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) attended as chief guest. In his remarks, he described play-based learning as an innovative approach, noting that while implementation is important, the sincerity and effectiveness of its application in teaching are even more crucial. He thanked BRAC for organising the event and urged all relevant government stakeholders to become actively involved in implementing Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes.

The welcome address was delivered by Dr Shayla Islam, Associate Director of BRAC’s Health Programme (BHP), while Rokshana Jahan, Programme Manager of the ECD sector under HCMP, moderated the session.

Key recommendations from the workshop included increasing attendance at Learning Centres (LC) in Rohingya camps; strengthening the focus on children’s health and protection in both host communities and camps; prioritising instruction in the Myanmar language instead of Bangla; enhancing collaboration between local administration and service providers for child protection; ensuring education that promotes health, safety and social values for both local and Rohingya children; engaging caregivers more actively in the “Play to Learn” approach; and improving the quality of education.

Dr S M Hasanuzzaman, Programme Coordinator of Health, Nutrition and Early Childhood Development (ECD) under BRAC HCMP, presented on stakeholder engagement in early childhood development. Sayed Mahmud Sunny, Senior Manager (Partnerships and Communications) at the BRAC Institute of Educational Development (IED), shared key lessons from Phase 1 of the “Play to Learn” initiative.

Abu Saleh Mohammad Obaidullah, Additional RRRC; Suraya Akter Swety, Camp-in-Charge Camp 4 and 4 Extension; Md. Arafatul Alam, Camp-in-Charge Camp 10 ; Rezaul Karim, Associate Director and Office-in-Charge, HCMP of BRAC and Sheuly Sharma, Executive Director of JAGO NARI Unnayon Sangsta (JNUS),also spoke at the event.

Among the participants were Tapti Chakma, Camp-in-Charge,Camp 17, representatives from international development organisations and NGOs, Upazila Education Officers, Upazila Parishad members, and more than 90 other guests.

The workshop noted that play-based learning is currently being successfully implemented in Bangladesh, Uganda and Tanzania. Citing findings from the Annual Assessment 2024, speakers said that, compared to traditional teaching methods, play-based learning can enhance children’s cognitive development by between 30 and 85 per cent.