Children are often the first to suffer when disasters strike, facing serious threats to their safety, health, and education. According to UNICEF, nearly a billion children worldwide live in countries classified as “extremely high risk” due to climate change. In 2024 alone, over 242 million students experienced school disruptions due to climate-related hazards, with floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes damaging thousands of schools globally. Between 2015 and 2021, data from the Sendai Framework Monitor recorded more than half a million schools being either destroyed or severely impacted.
Schools play a critical role in disaster response, often doubling as emergency shelters and community centers, providing safety and continuity in education. Beyond this, they also serve as spaces for disaster risk education, equipping students with knowledge on preparedness and safety measures. Strengthening school infrastructure and integrating digital learning solutions have emerged as key strategies in ensuring students continue to learn despite environmental challenges.
One of the most effective ways to safeguard education is by investing in disaster-resilient school buildings. UNICEF has emphasized the need for structures built with reinforced materials, solar energy systems, and rainwater harvesting to ensure sustainability and long-term safety. Countries such as Pakistan have witnessed the success of such an approach, where schools constructed with internationally recognized building codes withstood the 2022 floods without requiring reconstruction. In Nepal, a decade-long earthquake safety program had already retrofitted 300 schools before the devastating 2015 earthquake, significantly reducing damage and allowing students to resume learning quickly. These measures not only protect children’s lives but also prevent financial strain on governments by minimizing the need for post-disaster rebuilding efforts.
While infrastructure plays a crucial role, digital accessibility is equally important in keeping education running during crises. Schools in urban areas may have access to online resources, but those in rural regions often lack digital infrastructure. The 2012 disaster response in New York City demonstrated how temporary learning centers in community buildings helped students return to school within a week after Hurricane Sandy. However, in North Carolina, students affected by Hurricane Helene in 2024 were unable to resume education for over a month due to a lack of online learning alternatives. Bridging the digital divide by introducing mobile learning hubs, tele-education platforms, and offline educational materials is essential to prevent prolonged disruptions. Teacher training in digital tools and investments in reliable connectivity can further strengthen schools against unexpected closures.
Disaster preparedness, however, should not be limited to physical structures and technology. Schools also play a vital role in educating students on how to respond to emergencies, making disaster awareness both engaging and practical. Creative methods such as storytelling and gamification have proven effective in teaching children how to react in crisis situations. The COPE series of illustrated books introduces young readers to the dangers of tsunamis, floods, and wildfires through relatable narratives, while the interactive game Stop Disasters has been played nearly 900,000 times in the past year, simulating real-world emergency scenarios. These approaches instill knowledge in a way that is both fun and memorable, making students better prepared for real-life disasters.
Beyond learning about disaster response, students themselves can take an active role in building resilience. The Resilient Schools Consortium (RiSC), launched in response to Hurricane Sandy, has empowered students aged 12 to 18 to assess the vulnerabilities of their own school buildings, propose safety improvements, and design projects aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness. Such initiatives not only equip students with valuable problem-solving skills but also foster a sense of leadership and control, reducing climate anxiety and encouraging youth-led climate action.
Building resilience also requires a data-driven approach. Understanding the risks faced by school buildings allows governments and organizations to prioritize safety measures efficiently. The World Bank’s Global Library of School Infrastructure (GLOSI) has been instrumental in helping cities identify cost-effective strategies to strengthen school buildings. In Colombia, GLOSI played a key role in developing the first school infrastructure plan for Cali, ensuring that educational facilities were more resistant to earthquakes. Similarly, in El Salvador, it has supported seismic risk mitigation programs by analyzing structural data from school buildings. Using such tools enables countries to focus resources on the most vulnerable schools, making them more resilient to future disasters.
A well-prepared disaster governance system can also ensure that schools recover quickly after hazards strike. In Indonesia, lessons learned from previous disasters enabled the government to swiftly rehabilitate 64 schools in Cianjur following the 2022 earthquake. The Ministry of Religious Affairs allocated emergency block grants based on pre-existing guidelines and protocols from past events, allowing reconstruction efforts to move forward without delay. This highlights the importance of having a structured system in place, where funding, standardized policies, and response strategies are ready to be deployed whenever necessary.
As the frequency and intensity of natural disasters increase due to climate change, protecting schools from these risks is more important than ever. By integrating resilient infrastructure, bridging digital gaps, fostering disaster awareness, empowering students, utilizing data-driven solutions, and strengthening recovery systems, schools can ensure that education remains uninterrupted even in the face of adversity. A resilient education system not only secures the future of students but also strengthens entire communities, building a generation that is be