Climate change keeps Pakistan students home

Pakistani children are losing weeks of education each year due to school closures caused by extreme weather linked to climate change. Heatwaves, toxic smog, and unusual cold spells have forced repeated shutdowns in various regions.
Many public schools lack basic cooling, heating, or ventilation systems, making classrooms unsafe during extreme conditions.

Closures often begin in May as temperatures become increasingly unbearable, worsening by June.
Parents have become reluctant to send children to school during peak weather events, citing frequent illness and risk of heatstroke. These interruptions in schooling are becoming more common, with extreme weather arriving earlier each year.

Experts warn that long-term exposure to environmental stress is already affecting children’s cognitive development.
Education officials are calling for a fundamental rethink of school calendars and infrastructure to address ongoing climate impacts.