5 crore school students in India were affected by heatwave in 2024: UNICEF

Key highlights of the UNICEF report: 

— The report revealed that at least 20 countries had nationwide school disruptions last year due to climate-induced disasters.

–74 per cent of the 242 million affected students are in low and lower-middle-income countries, with an average Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) score of 7 out of 10.

–In Africa, the situation is all the more as over 107 million children have dropped out of school with an additional 20 million children at risk of dropping out.

— September was recorded as the most frequent climate-related school disruption wherein the majority of schools were closed at least in 18 countries.

–On the other hand, April saw the highest global climate-related school disruptions, particularly with heatwaves which affected at least 118 million children in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, the Philippines, and Thailand.

–In 2024, heatwaves were the most significant climate hazard worldwide leading to disruption in school education, that has affected an estimated 171 million students.

–In 2024, South Asia was the most affected region, with 128 million students facing climate-related school disruptions. East Asia and the Pacific region followed, impacting an additional 50 million students.

It further updated that climate shocks are disrupting school education, putting children’s learning and their futures at risk. The report includes events like heatwaves, tropical cyclones, storms, floods and droughts in 2024.