Schools in Pakistan are set to have additional summer vacation days this year amid warnings the climate-vulnerable country could face severe and prolonged heatwaves.
The disaster agency in the central province of Punjab advised the government to order the closure of schools earlier than June, when pupils are normally let out for the summer. The government is expected to follow the agency’s recommendation.
Many school buildings are not equipped with air conditioning. And the students’ journeys to school in the intense heat poses its own health risks.
“This step will protect children from from heatstroke and a possible oubreak of diarrhoea,” disaster agency’s chief Irfan Ali said on Thursday.
The daytime temperatures in parts of the province with a population of nearly 130 million hover around 50 degrees Celsius during the scorching summer months.
“The heatwaves are going to be sever and longer than ever before,” the meteorological department warned after temperature rose to 47 degrees Celsius in some cities, in an unusual high for April.
Nearly 100 school days were lost to sever weather events during last academic year, highlighting the sever impact of climate change on education
Pakistan is already lagging behind in education with millions of children aged between 5 and 16 are out of classroom.
Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to the impact of the climate crisis despite its meagre contribution to global carbon omissions, according to the United Nations.
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