School in the Age of Climate Chaos
By:
Victoria Chizoba Okwuanalu
A
2024 World Bank report reveals a startling reality: students in low-income
countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa, lose an average of 18 school
days each year due to extreme weather events. This growing crisis is a warning
sign that climate change is quietly but drastically disrupting education across
vulnerable nations. In The Gambia, this challenge hits home.
The Gambia’s Education System Under Threat
| Fig 1: Catastrophic Storm in Central River Region had a hit on Dobang Kunda Lower Basic School. |
Source
https://www.gambiarising.org/crr-storm-fund.html
For
Gambian children, climate change is not an abstract future problem; it is a
daily obstacle. Floods, searing heat waves, and violent storms have become
regular disruptors of school attendance and learning. These extreme weather
events cause school closures, destroy infrastructure, and create unsafe
conditions that prevent children from reaching their classrooms.
“When
it rains, we don’t go to school. When it’s too hot, we can’t concentrate. When
there’s flooding, our books get swept away.” A 14-year-old student from the
North Bank Region said.
The
Gambia’s climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable. During the rainy
season, flooding swallows roads and fields, leaving schools inaccessible or
damaged.
Fig 2: Stagnant water at the Government owned school—Nema Kunku Lower Basic School.
Simultaneously,
rising temperatures bring another danger. Heatwaves sap children’s energy and
concentration, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and making it
difficult to maintain effective learning environments. Many classrooms lack
ventilation or cooling systems, leaving students vulnerable during peak heat
periods.
Storms
and erratic weather patterns compound these challenges. Buildings are damaged
or destroyed, textbooks and supplies ruined, and parents reluctant to send
their children to unsafe schools.
The Wider
Consequences
Losing
up to 18 school days each year might seem like a small inconvenience, but for
Gambian children, it represents a widening education gap. Missed days translate
into lost lessons, falling behind peers, and in many cases, dropping out
altogether.
Vulnerable
children feel the impact most acutely. Flooded or unsafe schools often lead
families to prioritize household duties or early marriage over education,
perpetuating cycles of inequality.
Local Statistics:
Climate Change Compounding an Existing Education Crisis
Fig 3: An infographic showcasing how
climate compounds with the existing education crisis.
Source: Victoria C. Okwuanalu.
In
The Gambia, the impacts of climate change do not occur in isolation — they
worsen pre-existing educational challenges, deepening inequalities and
disrupting learning outcomes. Here’s how:
1. Teacher Absenteeism: Weather
Makes a Difficult Job Even Harder
A
UNICEF study revealed that 14% of teachers in The Gambia are absent at least
once a week. While absenteeism has multiple root causes, climate-related
disruptions such as flooded roads, heat stress, and transportation breakdowns
in rural areas significantly contribute to these figures — especially during
the rainy season. https://www.unicef.org/gambia/press-releases/primary-school-students-gambia-face-significant-learning-losses-due-high-teacher
2. Learning Outcomes: Climate
Disruptions Shrink Time in the Classroom
With
students losing an average of 18 school days per year due to floods and extreme
heat (World Bank, 2024), the quality of learning is under threat. National
assessments show that only 13% of children possess basic reading skills, with
stark disparities between urban areas (16%) and rural areas (7%). In numeracy,
the figures are even lower — only 4% of children meet minimum standards, with
just 1% in rural areas.
These
poor outcomes are not solely due to climate change, but each missed school day
during climate emergencies widens the existing learning gap, particularly for
vulnerable children.
https://www.iicba.unesco.org/en/gambia
3. Out-of-School Children: Progress
at Risk from Environmental Shocks
Between
2014 and 2020, The Gambia made encouraging progress, with the number of
out-of-school children declining by 49%. However, access remains fragile,
especially in rural regions. Climate-related disruptions, like impassable roads
during storms, damaged school infrastructure, and rising household costs, pose
a serious threat to retaining this progress — particularly for girls and
children with disabilities, who are often the first to be pulled out of school
during crises.
https://education.dhis2.org/education-equity-inclusivity-gambia/
The
impact of climate change in The Gambia reveals a hard reality: education goes
beyond classrooms and lessons — it demands strength and adaptability.
Safeguarding children’s right to education requires confronting climate
challenges directly.
Figure
4: An infographic showcasing climate change in the Gambia.
Source:Afrobarometer
https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/gambia-climate-change-country-card/
Recommendations
- Build Climate-Adaptable Schools: Flood-resistant and
heat-adaptive infrastructure must become a priority to withstand extreme
weather.
- Flexible
Learning Models: Remote or catch-up learning options can help reduce
lost instructional time during weather disruptions.
- Health
and Safety Measures: Provide access to clean water, shade, and health
support in schools to combat heat stress and waterborne diseases.
- Focus
on Vulnerable Groups: Ensure programs reach girls, children with
disabilities, and marginalized communities to avoid deepening disparities.
- Integrate Climate Education: Equip students with knowledge
and skills to understand and respond to climate challenges in their
communities.
Taking
decisive action will ensure that The Gambian children don’t lose days to
climate chaos, and it will enable them to survive in a world that is rapidly
changing.
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