Climate Change Is Deepening Education Gaps in Indian Schools
As heatwaves scorch classrooms, floods damage infrastructure, and air pollution forces school closures, climate change has moved beyond being a future concern—it’s now an urgent and recurring challenge for India’s education system. The most vulnerable children, including those in rural and economically weaker communities, are facing the brunt of these disruptions, deepening existing educational inequalities.
Rising Temperatures and Interrupted Learning
This year alone, several states like Odisha, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have preponed summer vacations or shifted school timings to early mornings to escape rising temperatures. In areas like Delhi-NCR, severe smog during winter months results in multi-week school shutdowns, adding to the academic disruption. The consequences of these climate-related school adjustments are not limited to missed classroom days—they impact students’ mental and physical well-being, academic progress, and access to critical school services like mid-day meals.
A Growing National Concern
According to UNICEF, over 242 million children globally were affected by climate shocks in 2024, with 128 million in South Asia and 54.8 million in India alone due to heatwaves. India ranks 26 out of 163 on UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index, highlighting its high vulnerability to climate threats.
The impacts are regionally diverse: states like Karnataka, Meghalaya, and Assam experience school closures due to floods, while others face extended breaks due to extreme heat. In Karnataka’s 2022 floods, nearly 7,000 primary schools and anganwadis were damaged. Even when water recedes, many children can’t return to school due to loss of books, uniforms, or pressure to help their families recover economically.
Long-Term Effects on Learning and Equity
Climate change doesn’t just cause immediate school closures—it leads to lasting educational loss. Hot temperatures and air pollution directly affect cognitive performance. Studies from India, Brazil, and China show a negative correlation between poor air quality (high PM2.5 and NO₂ levels) and academic outcomes, including reduced reading and math scores. The World Bank has warned that students in heat-prone areas lose nearly 1% of learning every year due to extreme heat.
Children from low-income households, remote villages, urban slums, and marginalized communities suffer disproportionately. These students already face barriers such as limited digital access, and when schooling is disrupted, they fall further behind. Many also miss out on welfare benefits like mid-day meals, which are tied to school attendance and contribute to better academic performance.
Gaps in Policy and Preparedness
Despite these serious impacts, India’s major climate policy—the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)—fails to include education as a core priority. While the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promotes environmental awareness, it doesn’t address the systemic vulnerabilities of schools in the face of climate disasters. Most state responses remain reactive, such as sudden closures or temporary online classes, without long-term adaptation strategies.
Five Key Actions for Climate-Resilient Education
To climate-proof the education system, policymakers and stakeholders must prioritize the following five solutions:
- Data Collection and Regional Analysis:
Build a comprehensive database on how climate events affect learning outcomes. This will help tailor local solutions and identify areas needing urgent intervention. - Infrastructure Investment:
Upgrade school buildings to be climate-resilient—flood-proof, heat-resistant, and energy-efficient. Solar power, proper ventilation, and disaster-safe construction are essential. - Flexible Learning Models:
Develop blended and community-based learning approaches to ensure education continues during climate emergencies. Adapt school calendars and incorporate radio, TV, and digital platforms for remote learning. - Integrate Climate Education:
Expand the curriculum to include climate change awareness and action. Train teachers on resilience and climate adaptation strategies through programs like UNICEF-NCERT partnerships. - Secure Funding and Partnerships:
Increase public investment and foster partnerships with NGOs, the private sector, and international bodies to scale innovative solutions.
Urgent Need for Climate-Education Integration
With nearly one-third of India’s population under 18 and increasingly vulnerable to climate risks, protecting education must be a national priority. Failing to act risks long-term consequences for millions of children. Ensuring every child has access to safe, continuous, and equitable education despite environmental disruptions is crucial not just for their future—but for the country’s development.
