Cape Town: An alarming 242 million children across 85 countries had their education disrupted last year due to extreme weather events, according to a new report by UNICEF. Climate hazards such as heatwaves, cyclones, floods, and droughts kept one in seven school-going children out of classrooms in 2024, underlining the growing impact of climate change on global education.
The report highlighted the devastating effects of climate extremes, particularly in low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where hundreds of schools were destroyed. Southern Europe and other regions also faced significant challenges, with torrential rains and flooding in Italy and Spain displacing nearly a million students from their classrooms.
Heatwaves: The Most Disruptive Climate Hazard
UNICEF reported that heatwaves were the most significant climate hazard impacting education last year, as the earth recorded its hottest year on record. In April alone, over 118 million children faced schooling interruptions during a prolonged heatwave that affected large parts of the Middle East and Asia, with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F).
“Children’s bodies are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, as they heat up faster and cool down more slowly than adults. This makes learning in sweltering classrooms nearly impossible,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Impact on Low-Income Nations
Approximately 74% of affected children were from middle- and low-income countries, where the impact of extreme weather is magnified due to limited resources.
- In Pakistan, flooding in April destroyed over 400 schools.
- Afghanistan faced a combination of heatwaves and severe flooding in May, leaving more than 110 schools in ruins.
- Months of drought in southern Africa, exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, threatened the education of millions of children.
Mozambique faced additional devastation when Cyclone Chido destroyed over 330 schools and three regional education departments in December, followed by Tropical Storm Dikeledi this month, which disrupted schooling for six weeks.
Global Call to Action
UNICEF emphasized that education systems worldwide are “largely ill-equipped” to handle the effects of climate-related crises. From flooded pathways to washed-away schools, these disruptions not only hinder learning but jeopardize the futures of millions of children.
The report calls for urgent global action to climate-proof education infrastructure, provide safe learning environments, and ensure that the most vulnerable children are not left behind in the face of escalating climate challenges.