Ensure uninterrupted learning amid adverse weather

Among the countries most severely affected by the global climate crisis, Bangladesh is one of the worst-hit. Due to devastating natural disasters, the impact of extreme weather is not only felt in agriculture, health, and housing, but also in the education of our children. The disruption in education is affecting children in many countries, but the impact is most severe for children in Bangladesh. In 2024, extreme weather disrupted the education of 240 million children worldwide, with 35 million of these children being in Bangladesh.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported this on Thursday, January 23. The organization highlighted that the disruption of education due to climate crises is one of the most overlooked issues globally. The report identifies heatwaves as one of the extreme weather events that have had the most significant impact on schoolchildren’s education. UNICEF's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, warned that children are at an "increased risk" of suffering further harm due to extreme weather conditions.

Children are the future of the nation. If a large number of children in our country are exposed to such risks, what will become of our future? Last summer, we witnessed how schools had to remain closed for days due to severe heatwaves. Many children fell ill because of the heat, especially in urban areas like the capital Dhaka, where schools often lack proper ventilation. There are no open fields in front of the schools, no trees around, and the surroundings are all enclosed. The classrooms are overcrowded, worsening the environment, and there are not enough fans. Complaints have also been raised about malfunctioning fans in many schools. In such conditions, it is natural for children's health to deteriorate; however, the saddest part is that despite numerous complaints, no steps have been taken to improve the environment in schools.

Despite the publication of this report by the United Nations, the government is likely to remain silent. Many schools may not take any measures. We will likely face the same situation next year. But no one has the right to gamble with our children's lives. The government must become aware of this issue immediately, and school authorities must also take responsibility. Most importantly, every parent must become aware of this situation.

Along with this, all governments across the world must work together to reduce global temperatures. This is not the problem of any one country alone; it is everyone's problem, a global issue. All nations together have turned the Earth into a hell. The most responsible for this are the developed countries. Experts say that decades of uncontrolled use of fossil fuels and various human activities have caused the Earth warm and altered the climate.

Now, in combating this climate change, developed countries must take the lead. As the most affected by the rise in global temperatures, we must urge developed nations to take action. The government of Bangladesh must also put pressure on these countries. Most importantly, to ensure that our children’s health and education are not disrupted, the government must take immediate measures to safeguard the future of our children.