Climate Change Threatens Education in Asia
The record-breaking heat that engulfed Bangkok last month, leading to the closure of schools across Asia, serves as a stark reminder of how climate change is jeopardizing the education of millions of children. While the arrival of seasonal rains has brought some relief to certain parts of the region, experts caution that the broader problem persists, and many countries are ill-prepared to handle the impacts of climate change on schooling.
Asia’s Warming Trend
Asia is experiencing a faster rate of warming compared to the global average, resulting in more frequent, longer, and more intense heat waves. However, heat is not the sole challenge posed by climate change. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavy rains and flooding, which can damage schools and render them unusable as they are converted into makeshift shelters.
Moreover, hot weather can also contribute to wildfires and spikes in air pollution, both of which have forced school closures in countries ranging from India to Australia. The United Nations Children’s Agency, UNICEF, has already warned that the climate crisis is a reality for children in East Asia and the Pacific.
The Impact on Students
The story of Mohua Akter Nur, a 13-year-old girl living in a one-room home in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by children in the region. With her school closed, intermittent electricity leaves her without even a fan to provide relief from the sweltering heat. “The heat is intolerable,” she laments. “Our school is shut, but I can’t study at home.”
The poorest communities are often hit the hardest by these climate-related disruptions. April marked the 11th consecutive month of record global heat, and this trend is evident in Bangladesh as well. Shumon Sengupta, the country director for the NGO Save the Children, explains that not only are temperatures rising, but the duration of high temperatures is also increasing. Heatwaves, which were previously limited to certain areas, now affect a larger portion of the country.
Schools across Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, are ill-equipped to cope with the growing consequences of climate change. Urban schools, although relatively sturdy, are often overcrowded with inadequate ventilation. In rural areas, classrooms with corrugated metal roofs turn into ovens, exacerbating the heat issue. Additionally, the unreliable electricity supply makes it challenging to use fans for ventilation. Students, especially those in rural areas, face the risk of heatstroke as they walk long distances to and from school.
However, closing schools comes with severe consequences, particularly for children from impoverished and vulnerable communities. These children lack access to resources such as computers, the internet, and books, making remote learning during heatwaves nearly impossible. Moreover, their homes often lack the necessary conditions to protect them from extreme temperatures. Parents, unable to afford time off work, may leave their children unsupervised, putting them at a higher risk of child labor, child marriage, and even trafficking.
The Indirect Threat to Education
Climate change also poses an indirect threat to education. UNICEF research conducted in Myanmar revealed that rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall, leading to crop shortages, compelled families to withdraw their children from school to assist with work or due to financial constraints. While some wealthier countries in the region have taken steps to safeguard children’s education in the face of a changing climate, not all impacts can be fully mitigated, even in developed economies.
For instance, in Japan, less than half of all public schools had air conditioning in 2018. However, following a series of heatwaves, this figure surged to over 95 percent by 2022. Nevertheless, certain consequences of climate change, such as wildfires, continue to disrupt schooling. In Australia, authorities have repeatedly closed schools due to wildfires, and research indicates long-term impacts on the learning outcomes of students residing in the most severely affected communities.
Conclusion
The record-breaking heat in Bangkok and its subsequent impact on education across Asia serves as a wake-up call to the urgent need for action on climate change. The warming trend in Asia, coupled with the associated challenges of heavy rains, flooding, wildfires, and air pollution, poses significant threats to the education of millions of children. It is crucial for governments, organizations, and communities to prioritize climate resilience in educational infrastructure and develop strategies to ensure that the most vulnerable students are not left behind. By taking proactive measures, we can safeguard the education of future generations and mitigate the far-reaching consequences of climate change on society as a whole.
Source: The Manila Times
