अत्यधिक गर्मी से स्कूल बंद, शैक्षिक अंतर बढ़ रहा है।

Extreme Heat Is Closing Schools, Widening Learning Gaps Worldwide

Hena Khan, a ninth-grade student in Dhaka, Bangladesh, faced immense difficulty focusing on her studies as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius in the capital city. She lamented the lack of meaningful education in such punishing heat, where teachers struggle to teach, and students find it nearly impossible to concentrate, putting their lives at risk.

Khan's experience is not unique. Over 40 million students worldwide have been affected by school closures due to heatwaves in recent weeks, particularly in parts of Asia and North Africa. As the climate continues to warm due to the burning of fossil fuels, heat waves are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and reaching higher temperatures.

Government authorities and public health experts are grappling with the dilemma of whether to keep students in hot classrooms or advise them to stay home and keep cool. However, both choices carry consequences. While keeping schools open ensures continuity in education, it exposes students to health risks from overheating. On the other hand, closing schools disrupts learning and poses challenges for students preparing for exams.

The impact of heat-related school closures exacerbates existing educational disparities. According to United Nations data, approximately 17% of the world's school-aged children are already out of school, with a higher proportion in developing countries like sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, test scores in developing countries significantly lag behind those in developed nations.

Experts warn that heatwaves could widen learning gaps between tropical developing nations and wealthier countries, as well as between rich and poor districts within wealthy nations. Moreover, sending children to overheated schools poses health risks, as demonstrated by South Sudan's closure of schools for 2.2 million students when temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius.

Countries like the Philippines, India, and Bangladesh have also grappled with school closures due to extreme heat. Bangladesh, in particular, faces challenges in balancing the need to prepare students for exams with the rising temperatures.

Addressing the impact of extreme heat on education requires urgent action to mitigate climate change and ensure equitable access to education. It necessitates adaptive measures to protect students' health while maintaining educational continuity, especially in regions vulnerable to heat waves.

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