By Abbas Nazil
Rising temperatures and intensifying heat waves, driven by climate change, are increasingly undermining educational opportunities for millions of children around the world, according to a report jointly released by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the World Bank.
The report, titled Too Hot to Learn: The Impact of Climate Change on Education, warns of alarming trends has revealed that by 2050, nearly 2.2 billion children—almost every child on Earth—will be exposed to frequent heat waves, further straining already fragile education systems.
The findings highlight the growing urgency to invest in climate-resilient schools and education systems to safeguard children’s right to education.
“Climate change has psychologically and physically affected our learning. It is also making the school environment unhealthier day by day,” Shared Prakash, an 18-year-old student from Nepal.
The challenges posed by climate change extend beyond the physical, as heat waves disrupt school operations, degrade learning conditions, and compromise student outcomes.
In low- and middle-income countries, schools often lack essential infrastructure such as proper ventilation, cooling systems, and safe drinking water, making classrooms unbearable during extreme heat.
In some cases, governments are forced to close schools temporarily during heat waves, halting learning continuity for millions of students.
In May 2024, Pakistan experienced a severe heat wave that led to the closure of schools, leaving more than 26 million children—over half of the country’s school-age population—out of the classroom.
Similarly, South Sudan closed its schools for 2.2 million students in April 2024 when temperatures soared to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
In South Asia, thousands of schools in countries such as Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines have faced closures due to rising temperatures.
Even when schools remain open during heat waves, the quality of education is significantly affected.
High temperatures, coupled with inadequate hydration, impair children’s ability to concentrate, retain information, and perform academically.
In a recent survey conducted in South Asia, 78 percent of students reported that climate change had disrupted their education.
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Students highlighted various challenges, including their inability to focus during heat waves, damage to school buildings, and difficulties in commuting to school.
These issues are compounded in humanitarian contexts, where the convergence of climate change, conflict, and displacement leaves vulnerable communities with limited access to quality education.
For children in such settings, schools serve as critical lifelines, providing not only education but also a sense of stability.
However, the intensification of heat waves and other climate-related challenges threatens to destabilize these fragile systems further.
The report also underscores the glaring gaps in preparedness to address these issues. In 2023, a UNICEF survey found that among 40 countries classified as high or extremely high risk for children’s exposure to climate change impacts, only one-third had implemented concrete measures to make education systems more climate-resilient.
Despite the clear need for action, only 8 percent of countries reported providing climate education to at least 70 percent of their children, while few offered professional development opportunities for teachers on climate resilience.
To address these challenges, governments, with support from UNICEF, GPE, and other stakeholders, are initiating efforts to strengthen the resilience of education systems.
These include improving school infrastructure to withstand extreme weather conditions, enhancing ventilation and cooling systems, and ensuring access to safe water.
Teachers are being trained on climate-resilient practices and emergency preparedness, empowering them to support students during crises.
Policy reforms and investments are being made to integrate climate resilience into education sector planning, emphasizing the importance of green skills and engaging young people in climate advocacy.
The report stresses that these efforts must be scaled up urgently. Without swift action, the educational prospects of millions of children will continue to deteriorate as climate change accelerates.
Investing in climate-resilient schools is not only critical for safeguarding children’s right to learn but also for equipping them with the tools needed to adapt to and address the challenges posed by a changing climate.
As heat waves become more frequent, severe, and prolonged, ensuring that education systems are prepared to withstand these impacts is a global imperative.
Ultimately, the report calls on governments, policymakers, and global stakeholders to recognize the profound implications of climate change on education and to act decisively.
Protecting marginalized populations, particularly children, from the educational disruptions caused by extreme weather is vital.
Ensuring that every child has access to a safe and supportive learning environment is a fundamental step in fostering a resilient and equitable future in the face of climate change.
