Listening, speaking skills to get greater focus in primary education: Bobby Hajjaj
New curriculum to include activities on listening and speaking alongside reading and writing, says state minister
The primary education curriculum will include specific activities to develop students’ listening and speaking skills alongside reading and writing, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said today.
Students should be able to understand what they hear, express themselves clearly and develop the ability to communicate their ideas, the state minister said.
He made the remarks at the “Bangladesh TMTE (Training of Master Trainers in English) Members Conference 2026” at Dhaka PTI, according to a ministry press release.
He said the four basic language skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing, should receive equal importance, particularly at the primary level.
“Particular emphasis needs to be placed on developing listening skills at the primary level, as listening and practice are very important in language learning,” he said.
The state minister said students also needed adequate language skills to access global knowledge, particularly scientific and technological knowledge available in English.
“A scientist, doctor or engineer needs expertise in their own field. But scientists, doctors and engineers are developed through the education system,” he said.
Students should therefore be given opportunities to acquire the language skills necessary to connect with global knowledge, he added.
Education should be accessible to all, skills-based, career-oriented and grounded in ethical values, he said, adding that language learning should be treated as an important part of that process.
Bobby Hajjaj said textbook-based teaching alone was not enough at the primary level.
Teachers should come up with specific proposals on how videos, workbooks, digital content, games and other modern teaching materials could be used effectively in classrooms, he said.
“We want change. But that change must be specific, practical and result-oriented,” he said.
“Tell us clearly what you want. We will discuss the necessary changes and take steps to implement them.”
TMTE Bangladesh Chief Coordinator Riaz Parvez chaired the programme.
National Academy for Primary Education Director General Farid Ahmad, Directorate of Primary Education Additional Director General Md Abdur Rahim and British Council Bangladesh Deputy Director Maria Rehman attended as special guests.