Record heat and climate crisis in India has a profound impact on children’s education

The year 2024 was recorded as the hottest year in the history of India. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it proved to be the hottest since 1901. Its effects not only seriously on the environment but also on children’s education. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), in its latest report, has highlighted the destructive effects of climate crisis on children’s education.

Heatwave influence on 5 crore Indian students

UNICEF report “Learning Interpaded: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Discharge in 2024”, about 5 crore students in India were affected due to hot winds. In the countries of South Asia, especially in India, Bangladesh and Cambodia, the horrific heatwave of April 2024 disrupted the education system badly.

India’s sensitive status

India’s Children’s Climate Risk Risk Index (CCRI) has described India as a highly sensitive country in terms of climate change. India ranks 26th in the list of 163 countries.

Increasing record of school shutdown

In September 2024, a record disruption was recorded in schools in 18 countries due to climate crisis.

• The studies of 242 million (24.2 crore) students were affected globally.
• 74% of these students were from low and low-middle income countries.
• South Asia was the most affected, where education of 128 million students was interrupted.
• The education of 107 million children in Africa was affected, and 20 million children are on the verge of leaving school.

UNICEF warnings and suggestions

UNICEF has warned that climate crisis is not only the education of children but also their future.

• Disasters like heatwave, flood, drought, storm and cyclone are destroying the education system.
• UNICEF has appealed to the governments to create concrete strategies to reduce the impact of climate crisis on education.
• There is a need to take immediate steps towards ensuring the safety of children by making schools tolerant.

This report emphasizes that if efforts are not made in time to deal with the climate crisis, its effect will be felt for many generations.