Bangkok, Thailand: Soaring temperatures across Asia are disrupting education for millions of children. Schools are closing due to extreme heat, leaving students like Mohua Akter Nur in Bangladesh struggling to learn in stifling homes. This is just one example of how climate change is impacting education in the region.
Asia is warming faster than the average, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves. This, along with increased rainfall and flooding, damages schools and forces them to close while serving as emergency shelters. The situation is particularly dire for poorer communities. Crowded classrooms with poor ventilation and long distances students walk to school put them at risk of heatstroke.
School closures have serious consequences, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds who lack resources for studying at home. They may be left unsupervised, vulnerable to child labor, marriage, and trafficking. Climate change also indirectly affects education by causing crop failures, forcing families to take children out of school for work or due to financial constraints.
While some wealthy countries like Japan have invested in air conditioning for schools, developing nations lack the resources to upgrade infrastructure. The real solution lies in tackling climate change itself. Experts urge governments to prioritize this issue, highlighting the devastating impact on children’s education and future.
