Extreme weather conditions prevent the education of nearly 250 million children, says UNICEF Poverty and Development News

The UN agency says students in 85 countries had climate-related problems last year.

At least 242 million schoolchildren's education was interrupted last year due to heat waves, cyclones, floods and other extreme weather events, the UN children's agency said.

The heat waves were the most devastating climate event, with Bangladesh, the Philippines and Cambodia experiencing widespread school closures and reduced school hours, UNICEF said in a report released on Friday.

Afghanistan is among a number of countries facing multiple climate hazards, with the country facing heat waves as well as severe flash floods that damaged or destroyed more than 110 schools in May, UNICEF said.

Global temperatures hit a record high in 2024, with the Earth's average surface temperature rising 1.55 degrees Celsius (2.79 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1850-1900 average, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

“Children are more vulnerable to the impact of weather-related crises, including stronger and more frequent heat, storms, droughts and floods,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

“Children's bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They heat up faster, sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults. Children can't concentrate in classrooms that offer no respite from the sweltering heat, and they can't get to school if the path is flooded or if the schools are washed away.”

A total of 85 countries had climate-related school outages, including 20 countries that had nationwide outages, according to UNICEF.

Of the nearly 250 million students affected, 74 percent are in middle- and low-income countries.

South Asia is the most affected region, with about 128 million students facing climate-related upheavals, followed by East Asia and the Pacific, according to UNICEF.

September saw the most disruptions, with at least 18 countries suspending classes, according to the UN agency.

“Education is one of the most frequently disrupted services due to climate hazards. However, it is often overlooked in policy discussions despite its role in preparing children for climate adaptation,” Russell said.

“Children's future must be at the forefront of all climate-related plans and actions.”