The World Bank report, “Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action,” highlights the frequent and prolonged climate-related school closures in Pakistan, which not only disrupt learning but also lead to increased dropout rates as some students do not return when schools reopen.
During the 2022 flooding in Pakistan, an estimated 3.5 million children experienced disruptions in their education, with 1 million potentially ceasing to attend school altogether. The impact was particularly severe for children from households with lower levels of education and income. Six months after the flooding, 92 percent of affected households were still uncertain about when local schools would reopen, resulting in significant learning losses.
Between January 2022 and June 2024, students in Pakistan lost 97 days of school, nearly 54 percent of a typical academic year. The report emphasizes that each day of school closure equates to a day of learning loss.
The report also notes that farmers with at least a lower secondary education in Pakistan are more likely to adapt to climate change by diversifying crops, adjusting planting schedules, and using farm insurance. Additionally, improvements in women’s education have been linked to better health outcomes for their children, with educated mothers more effectively mitigating risks associated with air pollution and extreme temperatures.
Evidence from the aftermath of the 2022 floods shows that approximately 97 percent of parents in Pakistan support climate change education in schools. Among education policymakers in 33 low- and middle-income countries, 98 percent support the inclusion of climate education in school curricula.
The report highlights that climate change knowledge among young people is lowest in lower-middle- and low-income countries, such as Pakistan (19 percent), Sierra Leone (26 percent), and Bangladesh (37 percent).
During the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-2022), each month of school closures resulted in a corresponding month of learning losses. In Ethiopia and Pakistan, school enrollment among children aged 6-14 dropped by 4 and 6 percentage points, respectively, after schools reopened, with larger declines observed among students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Additionally, schools in countries like Haiti, Japan, Libya, Pakistan, and the Philippines are often used as evacuation centers during emergencies, further impacting their primary educational function.