Indian schools are unprepared to deal with heat waves that are already disrupting education
The effect of rising temperatures on learning will be borne by the poor and marginalised, but the matter has still not received the policy attention it needs.
In the sweltering heat, no electricity, water shortages and crowded classrooms together make learning impossible as summer temperatures soars across the country through the summer months.
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As heat waves become common with rising temperatures, ensuring an uninterrupted academic calendar is a growing challenge in many parts of the country. Heat waves, with their effect on the quality of life and the economy through their impact on health, agriculture, water availability and labour productivity, are also inextricably linked to education and learning.
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According to data available on the education ministry’s Unified District Information System for Education portal, the percentage of government schools meeting the student classroom ratio norm increased from 74% in 2015-’16 to 78% in 2017-’18. But more than 70,000 government schools across India still have a student classroom ratio above 50 and the variation is stark across states.
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Classrooms in government schools lack proper ventilation basics, like fans, with erratic power supply that adds to the discomfort. According to the Unified District Information System for Education portal’s data for 2021-’22, 15% of government schools in India do not have a functional electricity connection. The percentage of schools with functional electricity ranges is at an appalling 25% in Odisha, 30% in Madhya Pradesh, 23% in the wealthy state of Maharashtra and just 19% in Uttar Pradesh.
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