January 25, 2025
Introduction:
Recently, the United Nations Children’s Agency, UNICEF, released report titled “Learning Interrupted – Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions in 2024.” This report marks that at least 242 million students globally faced disruptions in their education due to climate events throughout 2024. This figure is considered conservative due to data limitations. The report spans 85 countries and identifies 119 distinct climate hazards that led to these disruptions.
Definition of School Disruption
School disruption is defined as any event that halts regular school activities. This includes closures, changes in timetables, early vacations, delayed school reopenings, and physical destruction of educational facilities due to climate-related events.
Impact of Heat Waves
- Heatwaves were the primary cause of school disruptions, affecting at least 171 million children.
- In April alone, over 118 million students were impacted, with disruptions reported in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and the Philippines.
- The trend continued throughout the warmer months, with severe implications for education.
Other Climate Hazards
- Tropical cyclones disrupted schooling for 18 million students in September, with additional impacts noted in October and December. Storms and floods were also factors, particularly in March and November.
- Droughts, often exacerbated by El Niño conditions, had long-lasting effects on education, especially in Southern Africa, which faced its worst drought in over a century.
Regional Variations in Disruptions
- The report indicates stark regional differences in climate-related school disruptions.
- South Asia was the most affected, with over 127 million students impacted.
- India alone accounted for 54 million disruptions due to heat waves.
- East Asia and the Pacific saw 50 million students affected
- Latin America and the Caribbean faced disruptions impacting 30 million students
- The Middle East and North Africa experienced storms and floods affecting over eight million students.
Vulnerability of Children
UNICEF’s report stresses that children are particularly vulnerable to weather-related crises. Approximately one billion children live in countries facing extremely high risks from climate and environmental shocks. The report puts stress on the urgent need for action to protect children’s education from the escalating impacts of climate change.