Key Takeaways:

• Approximately 242 million children faced school interruptions globally in 2024 due to extreme weather.
• Heatwaves were identified as the most disruptive climate event, particularly in the Middle East and Asia.
• 74% of the affected children were from low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the impact of climate-related disruptions in vulnerable regions.
• Massive flooding and cyclones led to significant school closures in regions like South Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe.
• UNICEF emphasizes the need for educational systems to be better equipped to handle climate-related challenges.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — According to a recent report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), extreme weather disruptions affected the education of at least 242 million children across 85 countries last year. This staggering number reflects approximately one in seven school-aged children experiencing interruptions due to climate hazards like heatwaves, cyclones, and flooding.

The agency pointed out that heatwaves were the predominant cause of these disruptions, particularly impacting nations such as Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Cambodia. In April alone, over 118 million children saw their schooling affected as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across parts of the Middle East and Asia. Whitney Russell, the UNICEF Executive Director, stressed the vulnerability of children, stating, “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.”

The effects were particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, with approximately 74% of the affected children falling into this category. For instance, more than 400 schools in Pakistan were ruined due to flooding last April, while severe flash floods in Afghanistan caused extensive damage to educational infrastructure, impacting over 110 schools. Moreover, prolonged drought conditions exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon threatened to undermine the educational futures of millions of children in Southern Africa.

In December, Cyclone Chido devastate...d the French territory of Mayotte and destroyed over 330 schools in Mozambique, rendering entire communities without educational access leading to significant disruptions in schooling. The cumulative impact of various climate-related events drew attention to the urgent need for systems that bolster education against such crises.

UNICEF called for prioritizing children in climate-related discussions, stating, “Education is one of the services most frequently disrupted due to climate hazards, yet it is often overlooked in policy discussions”. The organization insists on integrating educational resilience into global climate strategies for the future of affected children.

UNICEF noted that the world’s educational frameworks are largely ill-equipped to respond to the realities of extreme weather, echoing a growing concern about the broader implications of climate change on children's education worldwide. For more detailed insights, visit India Times.