How Schools Are Adapting to Climate Change: Embracing Early Holidays and Growing Community Support

MANILA, Philippines — In the midst of sweltering heat, kindergarten teacher Lolita Akim struggles to keep her young students engaged at Senator Benigno S. Aquino Elementary School. With temperatures soaring in Manila, the school has turned on five fans to combat the heat, with three more on standby.

Last year, unprecedented heatwaves forced schools to close, disrupting the education of millions. The government quickly responded by starting the school year two months earlier and adjusting class schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Schools now boast additional fans and water stations to help students cope.

This adjustment is crucial as extreme heat continues to challenge educational systems worldwide. Data shows that last year’s heat hit a record 38.8 degrees Celsius (101.4 degrees Fahrenheit), causing around six million students to lose up to two weeks of learning. Reports of heat-related illnesses, like exhaustion and nosebleeds, were common as classrooms without air conditioning became unbearable.

Experts indicate that this surge in temperatures is a telltale sign of climate change, primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels. According to Wilmer Agustin, a specialist from the national weather service, the arrival of El Nino further intensified last year’s heat and will likely affect conditions again.

This year, the situation remains dire. In March, nearly half of the schools in Manila had to close when the heat index spiked to dangerous levels. Agustin pointed out that this trend is likely to continue, especially between April and May when temperatures rise even higher.

To mitigate the impact of heat on learning, this school year brought significant changes. Classroom sessions are now limited to four hours to protect students from the intense midday sun. Schools have also installed water stations and fans in every classroom, while newer buildings feature heat-reflective roofs.

However, not all students have access to these resources. During last year’s closures, only three percent could join online classes, leading to the preparation of printed materials for those who can’t attend school. Despite these efforts, many still struggle with the realities of face-to-face learning.

The education department’s budget for climate adaptation is only 10 billion pesos ($174 million), which limits what can be done about school infrastructure, especially with a shortage of classrooms—in Manila, there’s a need for 18,000 more. Public schools often run two shifts a day, resulting in overcrowded classrooms, where about 50 students share a small space.

Students like eleven-year-old Ella Azumi Araza attend school only four days a week due to these shortages. At home, she studies in a small room where three fans circulate the air, yet her mother worries about how Ella returns from school, often coughing from the heat. Bringing a jug of water to school is one way to combat dehydration.

Across town at President Corazon C. Aquino High School, eighth-graders find relief in small rechargeable fans while taking tests. However, with malfunctioning ceiling fans, the struggle to maintain a conducive learning environment persists. Teachers are taking drastic measures, such as suspending uniform requirements to allow students to wear cooler clothing.

Principal Reynora Laurenciano notes that for many students, school is a safer haven compared to their often crowded and difficult living conditions at home.

As schools adapt, the road ahead remains fraught with challenges, with climate change standing as a formidable barrier to education. This urgent situation illustrates the critical need for long-term solutions and a reevaluation of how education systems can better prepare for an increasingly hotter future.

For further reading on climate change impacts on education, visit the National Climate Assessment.

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