At least 242 million children worldwide saw their education disrupted last year due to heatwaves, floods, cyclones, and other extreme weather events, according to a report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This situation accounted for one in seven school-going children globally being affected by climate hazards throughout 2024. The report highlights how these climatic extremes primarily impacted children in low-income nations, especially in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where the infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle such challenges.

UNICEF pointed out that heatwaves emerged as the most disruptive climate phenomenon, with countries like Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Cambodia experiencing widespread school closures. Moreover, in southern Europe, torrential rains and devastating floods led to disruptions affecting over 900,000 children in Italy and hundreds more in Spain. Notably, the year 2024 witnessed the highest global temperatures ever recorded, which exacerbated these issues.

According to UNICEF, in April alone, climate conditions interrupted schooling for over 118 million children across the globe, sparked by persistent heatwaves in regions such as the Middle East and Asia. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the heightened vulnerability of children to climate-related crises, stating, “Children’s bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They heat up faster, they sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults.”

While 74% of those affected lived in middle- and low-income countries, UNICEF highlighted the dire situation in various nations. For instance, severe flooding in Pakistan ruined more than 400 schools, while in Afghanistan, particularly harsh heatwaves resulted in the destruction of over 110 schools due to subsequent floods. The report also detailed ongoing crises in southern Africa, worsened by the El Niño weather phenomenon, threatening the educational prospects of millions.

In the French territory of Mayotte, devastating impacts from Cyclone Chido left schools destroyed, with students missing out on six weeks of education. Similarly, in Mozambique, more than 330 schools faced destruction. Given these challenges, UNICEF concluded that the world’s education systems are largely unprepared to cope with the rising tide of extreme weather events affecting children’s learning opportunities. This highlights an urgent need for climate-centric policies that prioritize education in the face of climate change.

For more details, read the full report from Al Jazeera and India Times.