2.2 Million Pupils Displaced: Urgent Need for Resilient Learning Environments

2.2 Million Pupils Displaced

The devastating impact of climate change on education in Nigeria has once again been brought to the forefront as the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recently revealed that flooding in 2024 displaced approximately 2.2 million pupils across the country.

Development Diaries reports that according to UNICEF, the devastating floods directly affected 2,200,200 learners.

In a press briefing on the International Day of Education, chief of UNICEF’s Kano field office, Rahama Mohammed-Farah, revealed that the crisis has led to prolonged school closures, the destruction of educational infrastructure, and the disruption of learning for millions of children.

In Jigawa State alone, 115 schools were destroyed, affecting over 92,518 pupils – 43,813 females and 48,705 males.

These figures highlight the vulnerability of Nigeria’s education sector to climate-induced disasters, which disproportionately affect children in rural and flood-prone communities.

Without urgent interventions, the frequency and severity of climate-related disruptions will continue to hinder access to quality education.

Climate change is increasingly emerging as a major barrier to education, particularly in developing nations.

According to UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report 2023, climate-related disasters contribute to the closure of approximately 40 million school days annually worldwide.

In Nigeria, recurrent flooding has not only displaced learners but has also led to the destruction of teaching materials, sanitation facilities, and school furniture, further deepening the learning crisis.

Beyond infrastructure damage, climate-related school closures often result in increased dropout rates, particularly among girls, who face a higher risk of child marriage and economic exploitation when out of school.

Additionally, the World Bank’s 2021 Report on Climate and Development estimates that climate change could push an additional 132 million people into extreme poverty by 2030, worsening economic conditions for families and making it even harder to prioritise education.

While UNICEF and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) are supporting Kano and Jigawa state governments in developing climate-resilient learning environments, a more coordinated national response is required.

This is where the strategic response from state governments come in.

It is time for all state governments to integrate climate resilience into their Education Sector Plans (ESPs) by investing in flood-resistant school infrastructure, incorporating climate change education into school curricula, and implementing alternative learning solutions such as digital and community-based education programmes.

For state governments without an existing ESP, the time to formulate one is now.

According to the United Nations Girls Education Initiative (UNGEI), the State Education Sector Plans (SESP) or ESP is a comprehensive strategic document that offers a vision for the schooling system and identifies the ways to achieve it.

Countries like Bangladesh, which experience similar climate challenges, have successfully adopted floating schools and reinforced school structures to withstand flooding.

Nigeria must learn from such models to ensure that education remains accessible despite climate-induced challenges.

The flooding of rice farmlands in Shonga, Kwara State, and the state government’s swift response further emphasise the far-reaching consequences of climate change.

However, while addressing its impact on agriculture is critical, equal attention must be given to protecting the education sector.

Just as the Kwara government has set up a probe committee to investigate and mitigate future agricultural losses, state governments across Nigeria must prioritise education in their climate adaptation strategies.

Without sustainable solutions, millions of children will continue to face interruptions in their education, deepening inequalities and limiting future economic opportunities.

Development Diaries calls on state governments to take urgent action in developing climate-smart education policies that safeguard learning against environmental disruptions, ensuring that no child is left behind due to climate change.

Photo source: Channels TV

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