Latest news with #educationcrisis
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Khaleej Times
School's out: Climate change keeps Pakistan students home
Pakistan's children are losing weeks of education each year to school closures caused by climate change-linked extreme weather, prompting calls for a radical rethink of learning schedules. Searing heat, toxic smog and unusual cold snaps have all caused closures that are meant to spare children the health risks of learning in classrooms that are often overcrowded and lack basic cooling, heating or ventilation systems. In May, a nationwide heatwave saw temperatures up to seven degrees Celsius above normal, hitting 45C (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in Punjab and prompting several provinces to cut school hours or start summer holidays early. "The class becomes so hot that it feels like we are sitting in a brick kiln," said 17-year-old Hafiz Ehtesham outside an inner city Lahore school. "I don't even want to come to school." Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with limited resources for adaptation, and extreme weather is compounding an existing education crisis caused mostly by access and poverty. "Soon we will have major cognitive challenges because students are being impacted by extreme heat and extreme smog over long periods of time," said Lahore-based education activist Baela Raza Jamil. "The poorest are most vulnerable. But climate change is indeed a great leveller and the urban middle class is also affected." Pakistan's summers historically began in June, when temperatures hit the high 40s. But in the last five years, May has been similarly hot, according to the Meteorological Department. "During a power outage, I was sweating so much that the drops were falling off my forehead onto my desk," 15-year-old Jannat, a student in Lahore, told AFP. "A girl in my class had a nosebleed from the heat." Health versus learning Around a third of Pakistani school-age children — over 26 million -- are out of school, according to government figures, one of the highest numbers in the world. And 65 per cent of children are unable to read age-appropriate material by age 10. School closures affect almost every part of Pakistan, including the country's most populous province Punjab, which has the highest rates of school attendance. Classes closed for two weeks in November over air pollution, and another week in May because of heat. In the previous academic year, three weeks were lost in January to a cold snap and two weeks in May due to heat. Political unrest and cricket matches that closed roads meant more lost days. In Balochistan, Pakistan's poorest province, May heatwaves have prompted early summer vacations for three years running, while in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, school hours are regularly slashed. For authorities, the choice is often between sending children to school in potentially dangerous conditions or watching them fall behind. In southern Sindh province, authorities have resisted heat-related closures despite growing demands from parents. "It's hard for parents to send their children to school in this kind of weather," private school principal Sadiq Hussain told AFP in Karachi, adding that attendance drops by 25 percent in May. "Their physical and mental health is being affected," added Dost Mohammad Danish, general secretary of All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association. "Don't expect better scientists from Pakistan in the coming years." 'Everyone is suffering' Schools in Pakistan are overseen by provincial authorities, whose closure notices apply to all schools in a region, even when they are hundreds of kilometres (miles) apart and may be experiencing different conditions, or have different resources to cope. Teachers, parents and education experts want a rethink of school hours, exam timetables and vacations, with schools able to offer Saturday classes or split the school day to avoid the midday heat. Izza Farrakh, a senior education specialist at the World Bank, said climate change-related impacts are affecting attendance and learning outcomes. "Schools need to have flexibility in determining their academic calendar. It shouldn't be centralised," she said, adding that end-of-year exams usually taken in May could be replaced by regular assessments throughout the year. Adapting school buildings is also crucial. International development agencies have already equipped thousands of schools with solar panels, but many more of the country's 250,000 schools need help. Hundreds of climate-resilient schools funded by World Bank loans are being built in Sindh. They are elevated to withstand monsoon flooding, and fitted with solar panels for power and rooftop insulation to combat heat and cold. But in Pakistan's most impoverished villages, where education is a route out of generational poverty, parents still face tough choices. In rural Sukkur, the local school was among 27,000 damaged or destroyed by unprecedented 2022 floods. Children learn outside their half-collapsed school building, unprotected from the elements. "Our children are worried, and we are deeply concerned," said parent Ali Gohar Gandhu, a daily wage labourer. "Everyone is suffering."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
About a third of all LCSD1 staff losses from Cheyenne's South High
CHEYENNE — A Cheyenne high school freshman saw half of his teachers quit over the course of the 2024-25 school year, according to his mother, Heather Dodson. Dodson told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle the unexpected loss of his teachers disrupted her son's ability to learn. As a result, she removed her child from math class and enrolled him in summer school. 'It's really impacted his education. He's a bright student,' Dodson said. 'But it's a constant daily struggle to get him engaged, to turn in his work, when you don't have consistency.' Since last August, South High has lost nearly 40 members of its staff, according to data from Laramie County School District 1 obtained by the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Certified staff, which includes classroom teachers, nurses, counselors and specialists, made up around 70% of this turnover. 'My son said, 'They just look dead,'' Dodson said. 'Not just teachers, from what I hear, it's the support staff, as well.' Teacher recruitment and retention is not an issue isolated to Wyoming's largest district, said South High math teacher Dan Marcum. It's an issue happening in schools across the state and the country — and 'it's getting worse,' he said. 'It's getting harder and harder for people to want to go to the classroom,' Marcum said. 'The nature of education has changed tremendously in the 40 years that I've been in the classroom.' With the rise in behavioral issues and student apathy toward learning, new teachers are entering the profession unprepared, Marcum said. Excessive cellphone use in the classroom, coupled with chronic absenteeism, makes it difficult for teachers to keep their students engaged in the lessons. 'If I were now thinking about (going into teaching) … I might be looking elsewhere,' Marcum said. LCSD1 teacher turnover Superintendent Stephen Newton told the WTE in an emailed statement there were 115 resignations and retirements across the district, as of May 28. However, he noted this is a 'sharp decline' from the total three years ago. In the 2022-23 school year, the district saw 161 resignations and retirements by certified staff. In the 2023-24 school year, that number was 131, according to Newton. 'Every year, LCSD1 employees leave the district for a variety of reasons,' Newton said. 'Although we cannot speculate about the reasons people resign, it appears this is a nationwide issue, as there are fewer people who choose to go into the field of education.' Newton listed several trending concerns from teachers, including: * Workload and time demands, especially regarding planning and assessment expectations. * Student behavior and the need for more consistent support and resources to manage classrooms effectively. * Concerns about compensation and benefits in relation to the cost of living. * Desire for greater input into decision-making and curriculum implementation. District administration is conducting exit interviews and reviewing recruitment and retention strategies in response to this issue, Newton said. The LCSD1 Board of Trustees is examining compensation and workload concerns, as well as advocating at the state level for more resources, he added. 'Recruiting and retaining high-quality educators is a top priority for LCSD1, and like many districts across the state and country, we recognize this is an ongoing challenge,' Newton said. 'We are competing in a tight labor market, especially in hard-to-fill areas such as special education, math and science.' He and other district administrators are open to hearing the concerns of teachers and support staff, Newton said, and continue to find ways to better support educators in the classroom. 'They don't value me' South High teacher Tascha Burton is a fifth-generation teacher who has taught English in LCSD1 since 2003, primarily in the South triad. She told the WTE her passion for teaching runs deep, but recent action taken by the Wyoming Legislature has made her feel undervalued as a teacher. 'I know that I'm not worthless,' Burton said. For more than two decades, Burton has educated generations of Cheyenne families. She's stayed in touch with several of her former students, educated their children, attended their weddings and written letters of recommendation. But the lack of pay raises and increased pressure from the Legislature has made her question if she wants to stay in the profession. For 18 years, Burton also taught at Laramie County Community College two nights a week so she could support her children. 'We haven't had a good raise in 20 years,' Burton said. 'Two years ago, the raise was about $158 a month for me, but my mortgage went up $154.' The last 'huge' pay hike Burton received was in her second year teaching for the district, when she received a $10,000 raise. Other raises have been small, or ones she'd earned by earning two master's degrees. 'Our health insurance costs are going up in July, but our raise doesn't come into effect until September,' Burton said. 'I don't even know if our raise is going to cover the increase of our health insurance.' She thought about applying for another job over the spring and was ready to create a resume. However, when Burton attended a local soccer game, she drove back home in tears. 'I'm not ready to leave my students, and I love my colleagues,' Burton said. 'I think the Legislature wants to get rid of public education. … That's what their actions show me.' This year, state lawmakers passed the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act. This law expands the current education savings account program by increasing per-student spending from $6,000 to $7,000 to attend a private K-12 school program, including homeschooling. Approximately $30 million from the state's general fund was appropriated toward this program. 'They want to fund people who want to educate in their home, or they want to fund people who want to send their kids to private schools,' Burton said. 'And the message in that is, 'We don't value you as a public educator.'' State actions impact teachers In the recent legislative session, Wyoming lawmakers successfully repealed gun-free zones in most areas of the state, including public schools. Last year, a new parental rights bill passed by the Legislature created additional duties for K-12 school districts related to parental notification and consent. Marcum said these new laws have caused 'a stress point for a lot of teachers.' He personally struggles with the new gun policy 'a lot.' As a parent, Marcum doesn't think allowing concealed carry in public schools is 'the right approach.' During the LCSD1 board meeting on Monday, teachers union representatives recommended an option to hold parent-teacher conferences virtually. 'I was glad to see the (Cheyenne Teachers Education Association) bring it up,' Marcum said. 'I honestly feel that I'm going to have an unequal balance of power now, if I'm in a parent meeting.' Burton said the parental rights bill has created a burden for her in the classroom, requiring her to tell a parent if a student discloses their sexual orientation or gender identity. She views that as a betrayal of that student's trust. 'I've had students write essays and come out to me before,' Burton said. 'But under the new law … I would have to contact their parents, and that doesn't seem fair, to have someone trust me and then feel like I'm betraying their trust.' Students are disengaged Marcum and Burton said chronic absenteeism and excessive cellphone use are major disruptors in today's student learning environment. Marcum noted there's been an increase in the number of school activities and programs that are pulling students out of the classroom. As a result, they're falling behind in their classwork, and the pressure is on teachers to keep them up to speed. Students with extreme behavior issues also tend to be the same ones with chronic absenteeism, he said. Teachers are held responsible to find 'creative ways' to engage these students and keep them at a proficient learning level. 'It's just an overwhelming challenge,' Marcum said. 'Our administration is not really fully grasping the challenges, I think, that a lot of teachers are having to deal with.' Burton said there's more pressure from administrators on teachers to keep students engaged. 'I feel like there's a bigger push for us to entertain our students,' she said. Both teachers told the WTE they need better support from the district to ban cellphone use in the classroom. Students no longer try to sneak their phone out during instruction time, they said. But it's an ongoing battle between the teacher and the student to give it up. Marcum described the district's current cellphone policy as a 'word salad' that's 'not really workable.' Cellphones are considered to be a 'portable electronic device' in the LCSD1 student handbook. The policy recognizes the 'educational value in utilizing' these devices and leaves it to 'the discretion of the classroom teacher or a building administrator.' Students with an individualized education program (IEP) that requires this device are exempt from this policy. 'The district policy … is open to interpretation,' Marcum said, adding that cellphone use policies vary from school to school. These inconsistencies make it difficult for teachers to restrict the use of cellphones in their classroom. 'The general policy should be something that's easily implementable and consistently implemented at all schools,' Marcum said.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Extreme weather wipes out school days in Pakistan, deepening education crisis for millions
LAHORE, June 6 — Pakistan's children are losing weeks of education each year to school closures caused by climate change-linked extreme weather, prompting calls for a radical rethink of learning schedules. Searing heat, toxic smog and unusual cold snaps have all caused closures that are meant to spare children the health risks of learning in classrooms that are often overcrowded and lack basic cooling, heating or ventilation systems. In May, a nationwide heatwave saw temperatures up to seven degrees Celsius above normal, hitting 45C (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in Punjab and prompting several provinces to cut school hours or start summer holidays early. 'The class becomes so hot that it feels like we are sitting in a brick kiln,' said 17-year-old Hafiz Ehtesham outside an inner city Lahore school. 'I don't even want to come to school.' Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with limited resources for adaptation, and extreme weather is compounding an existing education crisis caused mostly by access and poverty. 'Soon we will have major cognitive challenges because students are being impacted by extreme heat and extreme smog over long periods of time,' said Lahore-based education activist Baela Raza Jamil. 'The poorest are most vulnerable. But climate change is indeed a great leveller and the urban middle class is also affected.' Pakistani education activist Baela Raza Jamil speaks during an interview with AFP at her office in Lahore. — AFP Pakistan's summers historically began in June, when temperatures hit the high 40s. But in the last five years, May has been similarly hot, according to the Meteorological Department. 'During a power outage, I was sweating so much that the drops were falling off my forehead onto my desk,' 15-year-old Jannat, a student in Lahore, told AFP. 'A girl in my class had a nosebleed from the heat.' Health versus learning Around a third of Pakistani school-age children – over 26 million – are out of school, according to government figures, one of the highest numbers in the world. And 65 percent of children are unable to read age-appropriate material by age 10. School closures affect almost every part of Pakistan, including the country's most populous province Punjab, which has the highest rates of school attendance. Classes closed for two weeks in November over air pollution, and another week in May because of heat. In the previous academic year, three weeks were lost in January to a cold snap and two weeks in May due to heat. Political unrest and cricket matches that closed roads meant more lost days. In Balochistan, Pakistan's poorest province, May heatwaves have prompted early summer vacations for three years running, while in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, school hours are regularly slashed. For authorities, the choice is often between sending children to school in potentially dangerous conditions or watching them fall behind. In southern Sindh province, authorities have resisted heat-related closures despite growing demands from parents. 'It's hard for parents to send their children to school in this kind of weather,' private school principal Sadiq Hussain told AFP in Karachi, adding that attendance drops by 25 percent in May. 'Their physical and mental health is being affected,' added Dost Mohammad Danish, general secretary of All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association. 'Don't expect better scientists from Pakistan in the coming years.' 'Everyone is suffering' Schools in Pakistan are overseen by provincial authorities, whose closure notices apply to all schools in a region, even when they are hundreds of kilometres (miles) apart and may be experiencing different conditions, or have different resources to cope. Teachers, parents and education experts want a rethink of school hours, exam timetables and vacations, with schools able to offer Saturday classes or split the school day to avoid the midday heat. Izza Farrakh, a senior education specialist at the World Bank, said climate change-related impacts are affecting attendance and learning outcomes. 'Schools need to have flexibility in determining their academic calendar. It shouldn't be centralised,' she said, adding that end-of-year exams usually taken in May could be replaced by regular assessments throughout the year. Adapting school buildings is also crucial. International development agencies have already equipped thousands of schools with solar panels, but many more of the country's 250,000 schools need help. Hundreds of climate-resilient schools funded by World Bank loans are being built in Sindh. They are elevated to withstand monsoon flooding, and fitted with solar panels for power and rooftop insulation to combat heat and cold. But in Pakistan's most impoverished villages, where education is a route out of generational poverty, parents still face tough choices. In rural Sukkur, the local school was among 27,000 damaged or destroyed by unprecedented 2022 floods. Children learn outside their half-collapsed school building, unprotected from the elements. 'Our children are worried, and we are deeply concerned,' said parent Ali Gohar Gandhu, a daily wage labourer. 'Everyone is suffering.' — AFP
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
School's Out: Climate Change Keeps Pakistan Students Home
Pakistan's children are losing weeks of education each year to school closures caused by climate change-linked extreme weather, prompting calls for a radical rethink of learning schedules. Searing heat, toxic smog and unusual cold snaps have all caused closures that are meant to spare children the health risks of learning in classrooms that are often overcrowded and lack basic cooling, heating or ventilation systems. In May, a nationwide heatwave saw temperatures up to seven degrees Celsius above normal, hitting 45C (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in Punjab and prompting several provinces to cut school hours or start summer holidays early. "The class becomes so hot that it feels like we are sitting in a brick kiln," said 17-year-old Hafiz Ehtesham outside an inner-city Lahore school. "I don't even want to come to school." Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with limited resources for adaptation, and extreme weather is compounding an existing education crisis caused mostly by access and poverty. "Soon we will have major cognitive challenges because students are being impacted by extreme heat and extreme smog over long periods of time," said Lahore-based education activist Baela Raza Jamil. "The poorest are most vulnerable. But climate change is indeed a great leveler and the urban middle class is also affected." Pakistan's summers historically began in June, when temperatures hit the high 40s. But in the last five years, May has been similarly hot, according to the Meteorological Department. "During a power outage, I was sweating so much that the drops were falling off my forehead onto my desk," 15-year-old Jannat, a student in Lahore, told AFP. "A girl in my class had a nosebleed from the heat." - Health versus learning - Around a third of Pakistani school-age children -- over 26 million -- are out of school, according to government figures, one of the highest numbers in the world. And 65 percent of children are unable to read age-appropriate material by age 10. School closures affect almost every part of Pakistan, including the country's most populous province Punjab, which has the highest rates of school attendance. Classes closed for two weeks in November over air pollution, and another week in May because of heat. In the previous academic year, three weeks were lost in January to a cold snap and two weeks in May due to heat. Political unrest and cricket matches that closed roads meant more lost days. In Balochistan, Pakistan's poorest province, May heatwaves have prompted early summer vacations for three years running, while in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, school hours are regularly slashed. For authorities, the choice is often between sending children to school in potentially dangerous conditions or watching them fall behind. In southern Sindh province, authorities have resisted heat-related closures despite growing demands from parents. "It's hard for parents to send their children to school in this kind of weather," private school principal Sadiq Hussain told AFP in Karachi, adding that attendance drops by 25 percent in May. "Their physical and mental health is being affected," added Dost Mohammad Danish, general secretary of All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association. "Don't expect better scientists from Pakistan in the coming years." - 'Everyone is suffering' - Schools in Pakistan are overseen by provincial authorities, whose closure notices apply to all schools in a region, even when they are hundreds of kilometers (miles) apart and may be experiencing different conditions, or have different resources to cope. Teachers, parents and education experts want a rethink of school hours, exam timetables and vacations, with schools able to offer Saturday classes or split the school day to avoid the midday heat. Izza Farrakh, a senior education specialist at the World Bank, said climate change-related impacts are affecting attendance and learning outcomes. "Schools need to have flexibility in determining their academic calendar. It shouldn't be centralized," she said, adding that end-of-year exams usually taken in May could be replaced by regular assessments throughout the year. Adapting school buildings is also crucial. International development agencies have already equipped thousands of schools with solar panels, but many more of the country's 250,000 schools need help. Hundreds of climate-resilient schools funded by World Bank loans are being built in Sindh. They are elevated to withstand monsoon flooding, and fitted with solar panels for power and rooftop insulation to combat heat and cold. But in Pakistan's most impoverished villages, where education is a route out of generational poverty, parents still face tough choices. In rural Sukkur, the local school was among 27,000 damaged or destroyed by unprecedented 2022 floods. Children learn outside their half-collapsed school building, unprotected from the elements. "Our children are worried, and we are deeply concerned," said parent Ali Gohar Gandhu, a daily wage laborer. "Everyone is suffering."
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
Climate change: Pakistan schools close, students stay home
Pakistan's children are losing weeks of education each year because of climate change. Extreme weather has forced schools to close, prompting calls for a radical rethink of learning schedules. Searing heat, toxic smog and unusual cold snaps have all caused closures intended to spare children the health risks of learning in classrooms that are overcrowded or lack basic cooling, heating or ventilation systems. In May, a nationwide heatwave saw temperatures up to seven degrees Celsius above normal, hitting 45 degrees (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in Punjab and prompting several provinces to cut school hours or start summer holidays early. 'The class becomes so hot that it feels like we are sitting in a brick kiln,' said 17-year-old Hafiz Ehtesham outside a Lahore school. 'I don't even want to come to school.' Climate change: extreme heat brings holidays early to Philippine schools Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with limited resources for adaptation. Extreme weather is exacerbating an existing education crisis, mainly caused by limited access and poverty. 'Soon, we will have major cognitive challenges because students are being impacted by extreme heat and extreme smog over long periods of time,' said Lahore-based education activist Baela Raza Jamil. 'The poorest are most vulnerable. But climate change is indeed a great leveller, and the urban middle class is also affected.' A girl drinks water after her classes on a hot summer day in Lahore as the state government announced early summer holidays for schools owing to rising temperatures. Photo: AFP Strange, bad weather Pakistan's summers historically began in June, when temperatures hit the high 40s. But in the last five years, May has been similarly hot, according to the Meteorological Department. 'During a power outage, I was sweating so much that the drops were falling off my forehead onto my desk,' 15-year-old Jannat, a student in Lahore, told Agence France-Presse. 'A girl in my class had a nosebleed from the heat.' Around a third of Pakistani school-age children – over 26 million – are out of school, according to government figures, one of the highest numbers in the world. At least 65 per cent of children are unable to read age-appropriate material by age 10. School closures affect almost every part of Pakistan, including the country's most populous province Punjab, which has the highest rates of school attendance. Classes were closed for two weeks in November due to air pollution and another week in May because of the heat. In the previous academic year, three weeks were lost in January to a cold snap and two weeks in May due to heat. In Balochistan, Pakistan's poorest province, May heatwaves have prompted early summer holidays for three years running, while in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, school hours are regularly slashed. 242 million children's schooling disrupted by climate shocks in 2024, says Unicef Finding a solution For authorities, the choice is often between sending children to school in potentially dangerous conditions or watching them fall behind. In southern Sindh province, authorities have resisted heat-related closures despite growing demands from parents. 'It's hard for parents to send their children to school in this kind of weather,' private school principal Sadiq Hussain told Agence France-Presse in Karachi, adding that attendance drops by 25 per cent in May. 'Their physical and mental health is being affected,' added Dost Mohammad Danish, general secretary of the All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association. 'Don't expect better scientists from Pakistan in the coming years.' Pakistan's children are losing weeks of education each year to school closures caused by climate change-linked extreme weather. Photo: AFP Schools in Pakistan are overseen by provincial authorities, whose closure notices apply to all schools in a region, even when they are hundreds of kilometres (miles) apart and may be experiencing different conditions or have other resources to cope. Teachers, parents and education experts want a rethink of school hours, exam timetables and holidays. One solution is for schools to offer Saturday morning classes or split the school day to avoid the midday heat. Izza Farrakh, a senior education specialist at the World Bank, said climate change-related consequences are affecting attendance and learning outcomes. 'Schools need to have flexibility in determining their academic calendar. It shouldn't be centralised,' she said, adding that end-of-year exams usually taken in May could be replaced by regular assessments throughout the year. Your Voice: why we need climate change lessons (long letters) Meeting each child's needs Adapting school buildings is also crucial. International development agencies have already equipped thousands of schools with solar panels, but many more of the country's 250,000 schools need help. Hundreds of climate-resilient schools funded by World Bank loans are being built in Sindh. They are elevated to withstand monsoon flooding and fitted with solar panels for power and rooftop insulation to combat heat and cold. But in Pakistan's most impoverished villages, where education is a route out of generational poverty, parents still face tough choices. In rural Sukkur, the local school was among 27,000 that were damaged or destroyed by the unprecedented floods of 2022. Children learn outside their half-collapsed school building, unprotected from the elements. 'Our children are worried, and we are deeply concerned,' said parent Ali Gohar Gandhu, a daily wage labourer. 'Everyone is suffering.'
