A new UNESCO report warns that climate change is disrupting education systems around the world, jeopardising educational progress made in recent decades
A recently released Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM) highlights the impact of extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and environmental changes on schools and students.
The report finds that most low and middle-income countries experience climate-related school closures every year, increasing learning loss and dropout rates. School closures due to floods, cyclones, and other disasters have affected millions of students.
Heat exposure is another significant concern. Children exposed to higher-than-average temperatures during their early years tend to have fewer years of schooling. The report cites studies showing that heat can reduce test scores and graduation rates.
The impact of climate change is particularly severe for marginalised populations. The report finds that boys and children from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately affected by disruptions caused by climate events. The situation is worse in countries with limited resources and fragile infrastructure.
The report calls for comprehensive adaptation strategies to address climate-induced disruptions in education. This includes strengthening school infrastructure, reforming curriculum to address climate issues, and training teachers to handle the challenges.