The Impact of Extreme Heat on Education: A Case Study in Paraguay

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Extreme heat significantly impacts education in Paraguay. Inadequate infrastructure hinders learning and increases inequality.

Climate change represents a significant global challenge, affecting multiple sectors, including education. According to the World Bank report “Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action”, education can play a key role in mitigating and adapting to these effects. However, the report also warns that educational systems are exposed to climate change risks, which can deepen existing inequalities, especially in developing countries.

The report highlights that education is the most relevant factor in raising awareness about climate change. It is estimated that an additional year of education increases this awareness by 8.6%. In Brazil, for example, 84% of people with secondary or higher education consider climate change a threat, compared to 62% among those with lower educational levels. This pattern reflects the importance of education in understanding and taking action against environmental challenges.

Between 2022 and 2024, around 404 million students in 81 countries experienced disruptions to their education due to extreme climate events such as heat waves, storms, and floods. Learning losses vary according to each country’s economic level: in low-income countries, schools closed for an average of 18 days per year, while in high-income countries, the loss was only 2.4 days. In Paraguay, high temperatures and deficient school infrastructure make learning difficult, as many classrooms lack adequate ventilation or climate control systems.