Extreme weather is shutting down schools worldwide
Heat waves, storms, and floods disrupted schooling for at least 242 million students in 2024, with low-income countries hit hardest.
Beatrice Christofaro reports for Deutsche Welle.
In short:
- Nearly half of Manila’s schools closed during a heat wave in 2024, reflecting a global trend where extreme weather forces students out of classrooms.
- Missing school due to climate-related disasters can lead to long-term academic setbacks, especially for students in middle and high school.
- Experts call for climate-resilient schools, including better infrastructure and educational policies to help students adapt to disruptions.
Key quote:
"It can be a small event, but it can also be life-altering. For many children, routine and predictability are more important than for adults. They don't necessarily have the coping skills to handle anything that disrupts this."
— Megan Kuhfeld, senior research scientist at NWEA
Why this matters:
As climate change intensifies, school closures due to extreme weather are becoming more frequent, affecting education and child development. Students in vulnerable regions face not just lost classroom time but also mental and economic challenges that make returning to school difficult. Learning gaps from prolonged disruptions can have lasting consequences, deepening educational inequality. Schools must prepare for an era where unpredictable weather is part of the academic calendar.
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