The World Bank has urged governments of flood-affected countries to take urgent measures to prevent future disasters, noting that over 404 million students globally have been unable to access education due to climate-related disruptions between January 2022 and June 2024.
A new report from the World Bank, titled *”Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action,”* reveals that at least 81 countries, including Nigeria, were forced to close schools temporarily due to floods, storms, and heatwaves. These closures, exacerbated by climate change, have led to significant learning losses, particularly in lower-income nations, where the impact is disproportionately severe.
The report highlights Nigeria’s ongoing battle with severe flooding, especially in Maiduguri, where the overflow of the Alau Dam has displaced nearly two million residents. It emphasizes the need for education systems to adapt to the realities of climate change, stressing that school closures due to extreme weather events are largely untracked and therefore invisible to policymakers.
The World Bank’s findings show that climate change is significantly disrupting education worldwide. It has increased the frequency of extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves, and droughts, causing unprecedented school closures. The report notes that between 2022 and 2024, these events resulted in millions of students losing access to classrooms, particularly in low-income countries.
“Climate change is impeding education,” the report warns, adding that “without immediate intervention, learning losses will widen the gap between rich and poor nations, as low-income countries are more severely affected by these disruptions.”
The World Bank recommends that for less than $20 per student, schools can be adapted to minimize the impact of climate-related disruptions. These adaptations include infrastructure resilience, temperature control, and remote learning during school closures. The report also calls for better teacher training and an emphasis on STEM education to equip students with the skills necessary for future climate-related challenges.
“Governments must act now to adapt education systems for climate change,” the report stresses. It highlights that investing in education can drive climate action by reshaping behaviors, developing skills, and spurring innovation needed to address climate challenges.
Despite education’s potential to combat climate change, the report laments the lack of investment in climate-related education. Almost no climate finance is directed toward education, yet it remains a key tool in fostering resilience and innovation to mitigate the effects of climate change.
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“Better-educated populations are more resilient, adaptable, and critical to driving solutions,” the report asserts, emphasizing that increased climate financing for education could significantly boost global efforts to tackle climate change.
In Nigeria, the effects of flooding have been severe, with a recent National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report revealing that students in some parts of the country missed as many as 53 school days in 2022 due to flooding. The states hardest hit include Bayelsa, Delta, Kogi, and Anambra.
The report underscores the urgency for Nigerian authorities to prioritize climate adaptation in their education systems to prevent further disruptions. As the world continues to grapple with climate change, the need for resilient education systems that can withstand environmental challenges is more crucial than ever.
