Extreme weather disrupts schooling for nearly 250 million kids, UNICEF says

At least 242 million students had their education disrupted last year because of heatwaves, cyclones, floods and other extreme weather events, the United Nations children’s agency has said.

In a report released on Friday, UNICEF stated that heatwaves were the most disruptive climate event, with widespread school closures and shorter schooling hours in Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Cambodia.

According to UNICEF, Afghanistan was one of the nations that was affected by multiple climate hazards, with the nation experiencing severe flash floods and heatwaves that left more than 110 schools damaged or destroyed in May.

Global temperatures hit an all-time high in 2024, with the Earth’s average surface temperature rising 1.55 degrees Celsius (2.79 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1850-1900 average, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

“Children are more vulnerable to the impacts of weather-related crises, including stronger and more frequent heatwaves, storms, droughts and flooding”, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said.

“Children’s bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They drouch less, they sweat less, and they cool down more slowly than adults. If the path is flooded or the schools are washed away, children can’t concentrate in classrooms that offer no respite from the sweltering heat.

In total, 85 countries experienced climate-related school disruptions, including 20 countries that saw disruptions nationwide, according to UNICEF.

Of the nearly 250 million students affected, 74 percent were in middle and low-income countries.

South Asia was the worst-affected region, with about 128 million students facing climate-related upheaval, followed by East Asia and the Pacific, according to UNICEF.

September recorded the most frequent disruptions, with at least 18 countries suspending classes, according to the UN agency.

One of the services that is most frequently hampered by climate risk is education. Yet it is often overlooked in policy discussions, despite its role in preparing children for climate adaptation”, Russell said.