In 2024, at least 242 million students across the world faced disruption in their schooling as a result of extreme climate events such as heatwaves, cyclones, floods, and droughts, according to a new UNICEF report.
This news comes as the World Meteorological Organization confirmed 2024 to be the warmest year in recorded history, with the past ten years all ranking in the top ten. The past year also saw unprecedented natural disasters and extreme weather events, impacting every continent on the globe and, in turn, many children’s education.
The largest culprit for school disruptions, according to the UNICEF report, was heatwaves. Over 118 million students were affected by heatwaves in April 2024 alone, with Bangladesh and the Philippines seeing full school closures and Cambodia cutting two hours off their school day.
Climate factors can significantly impact school buildings or the ability for children to get to school safely. Abnormally high temperatures and storms, for example, can limit routes to school and even damage school infrastructure.
Other countries faced multiple extreme climate events over short periods of time, further disrupting learning. Afghanistan saw severe flash floods that damaged and even levelled more than 110 schools in May, just after experiencing heat waves.
September saw the most frequent climate-induced interferences in schooling. As many as 16 countries across the world saw schools suspended due to climate. Typhoon Yagi forced 16 million children in Asia to miss some schooling.
The UNICEF report highlighted that South Asia saw the largest fallout from climate change when it came to education, with 128 million students impacted by extreme weather events. East Asia and the Pacific were home to 50 million affected students.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell explained how extreme climate events have had a disproportionate effect on children:
“Children are more vulnerable to the impacts of weather-related crises, including stronger and more frequent heatwaves, storms, droughts and flooding. Children’s bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They heat up faster, they sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults. Children cannot concentrate in classrooms that offer no respite from sweltering heat, and they cannot get to school if the path is flooded, or if schools are washed away. Last year, severe weather kept one in seven students out of class, threatening their health and safety, and impacting their long-term education.”
Moreover, 74% of the 242 million students affected last year were in developing countries. Low- and lower-income countries often do not have the technological infrastructure to move classes online in a manner accessible to all, unlike countries in Europe or North America.
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Still, higher-income countries were not spared. Floods and rainstorms impacted schooling for over 900,000 students in Italy in September and the deadly floods in Spain in October stopped classes for 13,000.
At present, UNICEF’s report highlights that school infrastructure is ill-equipped to deal with extreme weather. UNICEF aims to help governments build more resilient schools to deal with the inevitable threat of extreme climate in many parts of the world. For example, the organization helped build 1,150 climate-resilient classrooms in just under 230 schools in Mozambique after cyclones repeatedly disrupted schooling access.
In a separate report, UNICEF warned that the negative fallout of climate change with regard to schooling will likely get worse before it can get better. Between 2050 and 2059, it is estimated that eight times as many children will face extreme heat waves, and floods will impact three times as many children as compared to 2000s levels.
As the climate crisis continues to trend negatively, UNICEF has aimed to prepare for the worst, prioritizing children’s health and education.
“Education is one of the services most frequently disrupted due to climate hazards. Yet it is often overlooked in policy discussions, despite its role in preparing children for climate adaptation,” explained Russell. “Children’s futures must be at the forefront of all climate-related plans and actions.”
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: On 4 July 2024, Tawhida Akter, a determined 10-year-old girl from Manikpur, Shantiganj, exemplifies the resilience and hope fostered by the “Let Us Learn Project” (LUL) implemented by UNICEF and Jagorani Chakra Foundation (JCF) in Sunamganj. Tawhida shared her frustrations about the floods, saying, “I don’t like the flood. I don’t like water. Because of the water, I couldn’t go to my LC.” Despite these challenges, she is supported by her uncle, Jabed Ahmed, 15, who helps her and other community learners travel by boat to attend classes. Tawhida enjoys learning alongside her best friend, Tania Begum, 12, as they assist each other in their studies and share playful moments in their free time. With dreams of becoming a doctor, Tawhida’s journey illustrates the transformative power of education and the importance of community support in overcoming adversity. Cover Photo Credit: UNICEF.
