Africa: School in a Hot World - What Research Is Saying About Children's Health and Learning
Climate change is causing rising temperatures in southern Africa, impacting children's health and learning in schools. Research indicates that hot classrooms hinder concentration, memory, and overall academic success, particularly in poorly ventilated and overcrowded environments. This issue is exacerbated for children in low-income communities, where schools often lack adequate cooling and access to drinking water.
- ▪Classrooms in southern Africa are becoming dangerously hot, affecting children's ability to learn and thrive.
- ▪Studies show that classroom temperatures above 25°C correlate with increased absenteeism and reduced concentration levels among students.
- ▪Urban schools tend to maintain more comfortable temperatures compared to rural schools, highlighting educational and health inequalities.
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Climate change is making southern Africa hotter. While much attention has focused on climate impacts like droughts, floods and food insecurity, another crisis is unfolding quietly inside classrooms. Research has shown that some schools are becoming dangerously hot places for children to develop, learn and play. Hot classrooms can affect concentration, memory, behaviour and academic success. Extreme heat also increases risks to children's physical and mental health, especially in schools with poor ventilation, overcrowded classrooms and limited access to drinking water. For many children, especially those in poor communities, school may now be one of the hottest places to spend their day. This is a serious but under-recognised education and public health issue.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at AllAfrica.
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