UNICEF: 1 in 7 Students Hit by Disruptions

In 2024, extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cyclones, and floods disrupted the education of approximately 242 million children across 85 countries, as reported by UNICEF. This disruption affected one in seven students globally, with middle and low-income countries, particularly in South Asia, East Asia, and parts of Africa, being the hardest hit. Heatwaves were identified as the most severe threat, impacting education by forcing school closures and reducing school hours, with 171 million children affected by heatwaves alone. Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, highlighted the vulnerability of children to climate impacts, emphasizing the need for policy discussions to prioritize educational resilience. Despite the scale of disruption, the impact on education remains an 'overlooked' aspect of the climate crisis. The report underscores the urgent need for systemic approaches to build resilience in education systems to safeguard children's futures in the face of escalating climate challenges.