Learning Interrupted: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions in 2024
At least 242 million students in 85 countries had their schooling disrupted by extreme climate events in 2024, including heatwaves, tropical cyclones, storms, floods, and droughts, exacerbating an existing learning crisis, according to a new UNICEF analysis released today. Heatwaves were the predominant climate hazard shuttering schools last year, with over 118 million students affected in April alone, according to the data. Bangladesh and the Philippines experienced widespread school closures in April, while Cambodia shortened the school day by two hours. In May, temperatures spiked to 47 degrees Centigrade/116 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of South Asia, placing children at risk of heat stroke.