Extreme Weather Disrupts Education for One in Seven Students Globally in 2024, UNICEF Reports
Pune, 28th January 2025: According to a new UNICEF report, at least 24.2 Crore students in 85 countries experienced educational disruptions due to extreme weather events in 2024. Over 54.7 million students in India were affected by heatwaves, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to climate change impacts.
The report, “Learning Interrupted: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions in 2024,” reveals that heatwaves were the most significant climate hazard disrupting schooling worldwide, affecting an estimated 171 million students. April saw the highest global climate-related school disruptions, with heatwaves affecting at least 118 million children in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, the Philippines, and Thailand.
India ranks 26th out of 163 countries in UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index, emphasizing the severe climate risks facing its children. Fast-onset hazards such as flooding, landslides, and cyclones have repeatedly destroyed schools, while environmental stressors like extreme heat and air pollution are harming children’s health and hindering their school attendance and learning outcomes.
Key findings from the report include:
– 74% of the affected students are in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
– South Asia was the most affected region, with 128 million students impacted.
– At least 20 countries experienced nationwide school disruptions due to climate-induced disasters.
In response, the Indian government has integrated climate change elements into the National Curriculum Framework. UNICEF is working with the government to implement Comprehensive School Safety Programmes (CSSP) across 12 states, focusing on safe school learning environments and empowering children as agents of change. In 2024 alone, over 1,21,000 educators were trained under these programmes.
