TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: A recent report by the Global Education Monitoring Report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has underscored the profound and long-term impacts of climate shocks on early childhood education.
EXPLANATION:
- The findings highlight how extreme weather events can set back educational progress, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
Impact of Climate Change on Education
- The report, titled “Education and Climate Change: Learning to Act for People and Planet,” focuses on the direct and indirect effects of climate change on education.
- This study is part of a series aimed at fostering dialogue on education and the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically targeting the intersection of education and climate change.
Vulnerability of Young Children
- Young children are particularly vulnerable to climate shocks due to their dependence on adults and their developing bodies.
- The immediate physical hazards of floods, droughts, and heatwaves pose significant risks, but the report also emphasizes the broader impact on cognitive abilities, emotional well-being, and educational opportunities.
Case Studies and Evidence
- Several case studies illustrate the adverse effects of climate shocks on children:
- Ecuador: Children exposed to severe El Niño floods in utero were found to be shorter and performed worse on cognitive tests five to seven years later.
- India: Rainfall shocks experienced in utero negatively impacted vocabulary at age five and mathematics and non-cognitive abilities at age 15.
- Asia: An analysis of over 140,000 children in seven Asian countries found a negative relationship between early-life disasters and school enrollment and performance in mathematics, especially for girls.
School Closures and Learning Loss
- The report indicates that low and middle-income countries experience frequent climate-related school closures, exacerbating learning loss and increasing dropout rates.
- Over the past 20 years, at least 75% of extreme weather events have resulted in school closures.
- These closures disrupt educational continuity and contribute to long-term setbacks.
Specific Instances of Climate Impact
- Several particular instances highlight the impact of natural disasters on education:
- 2013 Jakarta Floods: Disrupted access to schools, converted schools into emergency shelters, and led to school closures due to damage.
- Cyclone Idai (2019): Destroyed 3,400 classrooms in Mozambique, denying 305,000 children access to education.
- Tropical Cyclone Gita (2018): Damaged 72% of Tonga’s schools.
- Flood Exposure: Reduced completed grades among 12- to 15-year-olds in Ethiopia (3.4%), India (3.8%), and Vietnam (1.8%) due to household income loss.
- Heat Exposure: High temperatures negatively affected educational outcomes, as seen in China, where high-stakes test performance declined, leading to lower high school graduation and college entrance rates.
Long-Term Educational Outcomes
- Long-term educational outcomes are significantly affected by climate variability:
- Pakistan (2010 Floods): Children in flooded districts were 4% less likely to attend school compared to peers in non-flooded districts.
- Africa: Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data from ten African countries revealed that low precipitation and drought conditions reduced primary school completion rates by 6.4%.
- India: Drought conditions in rural Maharashtra reduced children’s mathematics and reading scores by 4.1% and 2.7%, respectively.
Importance of Climate Change Education
- The report emphasizes the critical need to integrate climate change education into school curricula.
- This education should impart knowledge about climate science and equip students with skills in resilience, adaptation, and sustainable development.
Proactive Measures and Recommendations
- To mitigate the adverse effects of climate shocks on education, the report advocates for several proactive measures:
- Strengthening School Infrastructure: Schools should be built or retrofitted to withstand climate impacts.
- Training Educators: Teachers should be equipped to support students both psychologically and academically during climate-related challenges.
- Community Resilience: Initiatives should be undertaken to raise awareness and foster adaptation strategies within communities.
Investment in Educational Systems
- The report calls for more significant investment in educational systems to enhance their resilience to climate-related disruptions.
- This includes funding for infrastructure, training, and community programs that aim to build a more robust and adaptable educational framework.
UNESCO
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that promotes world peace and security through international cooperation in education, the arts, sciences, and culture.
- It has 194 member states and 12 associate members, as well as partners in the non-governmental, intergovernmental and private sectors.
- Its Headquarters is in Paris, France.
- UNESCO has 53 regional field offices and 199 national commissions.
- UNESCO was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
- UNESCO focuses on a set of objectives such as:
- Attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning
- Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development
- Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges
- Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace
- Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication
- Focuses on global priority areas – “Africa” and “Gender Equality”.
