Climate stressors like heat, wildfires, floods, and rising sea levels are undermining education and could reverse recent gains, according to the Global Education Monitoring Report. Compiled by UNESCO, the MECCE project, and the University of Saskatchewan, the report indicates that annual climate-related school closures in low and middle-income countries heighten the risk of learning loss and dropout.
How is Climate Change Disrupting Education?
The report explains that education systems are suffering for several reasons, including loss of life among students and staff members, demolition of infrastructure, and adverse impacts on health and livelihoods. According to a study reported by UNESCO, in the last 20 years, about 75% of extreme weather events have led to school closures, affecting nearly five million people. Natural calamities like cyclones and floods have caused several deaths and the destruction of schools. Additionally, higher heat exposures at prenatal and early life stages are linked to reduced schooling time, particularly in Southeast Asian countries.
Heat Exposure Impact on Years of Schooling
Children exposed to higher-than-normal temperatures are expected to attend 1.5 fewer years of schooling. For instance, in the United States, test scores dropped by 1% when the temperature was 1 degree Celsius hotter during the school year without air conditioning. In China, scorching heat affected the test performances of college entrants and high school graduates. In Brazil, students from heat-prone areas lost around 1% of learning annually. African American students are similarly affected by extreme weather conditions.
Rainfall shocks also negatively impact vocabulary skills during the first 15 years of life and math-solving capability at the age of 15. School enrollments are significantly affected in children from seven Asian countries who experienced natural disasters early in life. Math performance among students is also adversely impacted due to these reasons.
Marginalized Populations Bear the Brunt
Climate-induced educational disruptions are most common among marginalized populations. Out of the ten countries most affected by extreme weather patterns, eight are middle or lower-income countries. Among the 33 countries at extremely high climate risk, 29 are classified as fragile states.
Displacement Due to Natural Calamities
In 2022, around 32.6 million people were internally displaced by natural disasters. This displacement has had a direct and significant impact on education, further exacerbating the challenges faced by children in affected regions.
The UNESCO report highlights the urgent need for addressing climate change to protect the education and future of children worldwide.
