It’s that period of the year when the weather is often unfriendly that one frets to go out, yet has no better choice than to go out.
Last week in my region was a quantum jump of weather change, from 15° warm to -4° cold, very windy, snowy and harsh.
Yet, people beat these odds and set out for their daily activities. I feel sorry for schoolchildren whenever they’re set to leave for school, especially the ones that stay far from their school. Some children detest schooling at this time and are psychologically indisposed to learn.
Studies show that climate change is one of the factors that cause a loss of interest in learning among children. Sometimes, the weather is too hot, or too cold or there are heavy rain/floods, droughts, wildfires, storms, hurricanes, thunder/lightning, and so on.
Extreme weather conditions affect learning in many ways, both psychologically and physically. There are lots of climate-related diseases, air pollution, and infrastructural damages that are caused by bad climate conditions. These conditions sometimes disrupt learning or force school closures or make school children fall ill and skip classes. Imagine how students with learning or accessibility needs are coping with these disruptions or harsh weather conditions.
Whilst these are natural forces that we have no control over, there are ways we can cooperate with nature and ensure that the risks posed by these harsh climate conditions don’t affect learning in school. The future of education hangs in the balance if nothing is done about the widely visible impact of harsh weather conditions on children. All hands must be on deck to make this a success.
Schools and families should prepare for harsh weather conditions and protect the school premises from harm and dangers.
Teachers should monitor the mood and emotional state of pupils during severe weather changes.
Students should always check the weather forecast for greater awareness and climate literacy and prepare their minds before that.
The government should improve the response and recovery process after a disaster to ensure that students and schools can continue to find success in learning without disruptions.
Life moves between two polarities, bad and good, pleasure and pain, happiness and sadness, comfort and discomfort, summer and winter, and so on. Knowing how to balance between these two polarities is learning how to defy the uneasy and being equipped to keep flying regardless.
✍️Amara Ann Unachukwu
