The year 2024 was recorded as the hottest year in the history of India. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this year proved to be the hottest since 1901. Its effects were serious not only on the environment but also on the education of children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in its latest report has highlighted the devastating effects of the climate crisis on children’s education.
Heatwave impacts 5 crore Indian students
According to the UNICEF report “Learning Interrupted: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions in 2024”, about 5 crore students in India were affected due to heat waves. In the countries of South Asia, especially India, Bangladesh and Cambodia, the severe heatwave of April 2024 severely disrupted the education system.
India’s sensitive situation
UNICEF’s Children Climate Risk Index (CCRI) has described India as a highly vulnerable country to climate change. India is at 26th position in the list of 163 countries.
Increasing record of school closures
In September 2024, record disruption to schools was recorded in 18 countries due to the climate crisis.
- Globally, the education of 242 million (24.2 crore) students was affected.
- 74% of these students were from low- and lower-middle income countries.
- South Asia was the worst affected, where education of 128 million students was disrupted.
- The education of 107 million children in Africa was affected, and 20 million children are on the verge of dropping out of school.
UNICEF’s warnings and suggestions
UNICEF has warned that the climate crisis is endangering not only children’s education but also their future.
- Disasters like heatwave, floods, drought, storms and cyclones are devastating the education system.
- UNICEF has appealed to governments to create concrete strategies to reduce the impact of the climate crisis on education.
- There is a need to take immediate steps towards ensuring the safety of children by making schools climate tolerant.
This report emphasizes that if timely efforts are not made to deal with the climate crisis, its impact will be felt for many generations.
