ISLAMABAD: Climate change has significantly affected education worldwide, Pakistan students have lost 54 % of the school – 97 days of school – between 2023 and 2024.
This worrying figures were highlighted during one Panel Discussion Under the Dawn Media Group, under a two -day World Conference on Climate Change, “Climate Education: Protecting and Empowering Children and Young in the changing world”.
Participants noted that Pakistan ranks 7.8 out of 10 The risk of climate change indexIdentifying a serious threat to children’s education. In 2023, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that more than 2 million children were indirectly affected by the climate closure and obstacles to learning due to climate disasters.
Former Education Minister Zubida Jalal emphasized the need to revise the national curriculum, making climate change an important component of textbooks.
He also emphasized the importance of libraries and additional reading content for children.
“This is very important for environmental care habits and behaviors,” he said.
Ms Jalal argued that the government wanted to set up emergency funds to ensure immediate auxiliary system for children in the post -destruction situations. , So that they can return to the learning environment as soon as possible.
Government employee Ahtasham Anwar expressed disappointment that education in climate change debates is considered one of the aspects of the topic rather than the subject.
Mr. Anwar, who is the author of the children’s book, “Green Book“, Expressed regret over the minimum participation of the topics of climate change in school books and to better educate children about the daily risks of climate change Stressed the importance of merging the topic into the curriculum.
Bella Raza Jamil, a former public policy expert and former technical adviser to the Federal Ministry of Education, stressed that a multi -faceted approach was needed to tackle the challenges of education. He highlighted the population crisis, climate change and financial barriers, especially in a country like Pakistan, where only 1.5 % of GDP was allocated for education.
Ms Raza advocated the search for strategies to include climate change in geography lessons, improve teachers’ training and financing climate. “Life skills and learning are in hand. This is the time for comprehensive action – we are more ready.
Zonira Qayyim Baloch, a 14 -year -old climate activist from Balochistan, advocated for girls’ education and climate action, highlighting the serious impact of climate change on children’s education in Pakistan.
Referring to the World Bank data, he pointed out that 37 % of girls and 27 % of boys are out of school, which means 20.3 million children out of 63.3 million are missing education.
“What will be the future of Pakistan with many children outside school?” He asked the question.
Other speakers emphasized the urgency of action, warning that Pakistan’s unstable population increase rate will continue to push children out of school at a rate of 2.55 %.
Human rights activist Tahira Abdullah emphasized the need for a comprehensive solution, saying, “Population stability, sustainable development, climate change, environmental protection, climate support and gender justice Need this time. “
Dawn, appeared on February 8, 2025
