UNICEF reported that nearly 250 million children missed school last year due to extreme weather, with a significant impact in low-income countries. Regions such as southern Europe also experienced disruptions. The report highlights the vulnerability of children and stresses the inadequacies of current educational systems to handle the repercussions of climate change.
According to a recent report by UNICEF, around 242 million children in 85 countries experienced interruptions in their education due to extreme weather conditions last year. This statistic highlights the dire impact of climate hazards on children’s schooling, with an estimated one in seven school-aged children temporarily unable to attend classes in 2024. The report emphasizes that low-income nations, particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, were disproportionately affected by inclement weather.
In regions such as southern Europe, particularly Italy and Spain, severe floods disrupted education for over 900,000 children, illustrating that extreme weather extends beyond traditionally vulnerable areas. The report identifies heatwaves as the predominant climate challenge faced by schools, coinciding with the Earth’s record-setting temperatures. Specifically, April saw over 118 million children’s schooling negatively impacted due to soaring temperatures across the Middle East and Asia.
UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell stated that children are highly vulnerable to the effects of weather-related crises. She noted the physiological differences that contribute to this vulnerability, making it difficult for children to concentrate in heated classrooms or access schools compromised by flooding. The report indicates that approximately 74% of affected children are in middle- and low-income countries, underscoring the ongoing effects of climatic extremes in impoverished regions.
The report illustrated specific instances where educational infrastructure was severely damaged, such as flooding causing the destruction of over 400 schools in Pakistan and severe weather resulting in more than 110 school closures in Afghanistan. Prolonged drought, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon in southern Africa, has also placed millions of children’s education and futures at risk.
The destructive consequences of extreme weather continue to escalate, as seen during Cyclone Chido, which devastated the impoverished French territory of Mayotte and resulted in disrupted schooling for six weeks. In Mozambique, the cyclone led to the destruction of more than 330 schools, highlighting ongoing educational access issues in already challenging contexts.
UNICEF concluded that the global education system is inadequately prepared to confront the challenges posed by extreme climate events, suggesting urgent reforms are necessary to mitigate their impact on children’s schooling.
The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, linked to climate change, pose significant challenges to education. As evidenced by UNICEF’s findings, these climatic events disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially in low-income countries. Understanding the impact of such crises on education is crucial in addressing the broader implications for children’s futures and societal development.
In summary, UNICEF’s report reveals the stark reality that extreme weather events affected the education of approximately 242 million children globally last year. The disproportionate impact on low-income nations further emphasizes the urgent need for systemic changes in global education systems to adequately respond to the persistent challenges posed by climate change. Without immediate action, the future of countless children remains at risk.
Original Source: www.wral.com
