KARACHI: Southern Pakistan will extend its school summer holidays by two weeks due to dangerously high temperatures, affecting over 100,000 schools, according to an education official. This decision aims to protect students’ well-being amid severe heatwaves exacerbated by climate change.
Atif Vighio, a spokesperson from the Sindh education department, announced that schools will remain closed for an additional 14 days. This extension is a response to the extreme weather conditions that have become more frequent and intense in recent years. Pakistan faces increasing challenges from climate change, including prolonged heatwaves and more intense monsoon rains.
The extension highlights the severe impact of ongoing power shortages, or load-shedding, which are common in Pakistan. Power outages in rural Sindh can exceed 12 hours daily, leaving schools without essential cooling systems like fans. A public school teacher expressed concern about the curriculum but emphasized that the lack of electricity exacerbates the problem.
The situation is further compounded by poverty, with more than 26 million children in Pakistan currently out of school. The country has already faced extreme temperatures this year, with readings surpassing 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in rural Sindh during previous heatwaves.
Authorities in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, had already adjusted their school vacation schedule in May to mitigate the effects of the heat. The UN children’s agency UNICEF reports that over 460 million children in South Asia are exposed to temperatures above 35°C (95°F) for at least 83 days annually.
Pakistan, despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, has been disproportionately affected by severe weather events due to its vulnerability to shifting climate patterns. The extended school holidays in Sindh reflect a broader struggle to manage the impacts of climate change on education and public health.
