How natural disasters undermine schooling

Source(s): Inter Press Service International Association

Erica Chuang is Study Coordinator/Data Analyst -Population Council, Jessie Pinchoff is Associate, Population Council & Stephanie Psaki is Deputy Director, GIRL Center - Population Council

WASHINGTON DC, Jan 30 2018 (IPS) - In 2010, heavy monsoons led to devastating floods in Pakistan that destroyed 11,000 schools. Thousands of additional schools had to be used as community shelters, preventing them from operating as classrooms. In the immediate aftermath of climate-related events such as this, damage to schools and infrastructure often interrupt a child’s education.

This is even more devastating in countries and communities where access to educational resources is already strained. Following damage, repairs to schools and infrastructure tend to be slow and delayed.

Research has shown an overall reduction in educational attainment, lower academic performance, and higher rates of absenteeism among children who have experienced climate shocks.

After these events, children may also miss school due to sickness (e.g., malnutrition during drought, or increased rates of diarrheal disease after floods), injury, or displacement. In the long run, this may reduce lifetime earnings when these children reach adulthood.

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