What's happened
Record heat in the Philippines has led to the closure of 7,000 public schools, with students facing challenges studying at home due to lack of internet access and parental support. Heat-related conditions have affected 87% of students in Metro Manila public schools.
Why it matters
The closure of schools due to extreme heat in the Philippines highlights the impact of climate change on education. It raises concerns about educational inequalities, as students face challenges studying at home without proper resources. The situation underscores the urgent need for adaptation strategies to ensure continued learning during extreme weather events.
What the papers say
The Japan Times and The Independent report on the closure of schools in the Philippines due to record heat. While The Japan Times focuses on the challenges faced by students and teachers during the heatwave, The Independent highlights the difficulties students encounter studying at home without internet access and parental support.
How we got here
The closure of schools in the Philippines is a response to record heat attributed to the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon. The country has a history of struggling with extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change. The lack of proper infrastructure in public schools to cope with soaring temperatures has led to the adoption of online classes as a safer alternative during heatwaves.
More on these topics
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The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under three main geographical divisions from