Monsoon Floods Disrupt Education in Sindh as Schools Face Severe Damage

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Children in Sindh are suffering greatly from extreme weather conditions, with 230,000 students impacted by school closures caused by severe monsoon floods that have ravaged the southern region of Pakistan.

The latest data from Sindh’s School Education & Literacy Department (SELD) reveals that over 1,300 schools have been damaged, 228 of which are completely destroyed. More than 450 schools remain non-operational due to floodwaters, significantly disrupting children’s education.

UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, highlighted the ongoing crisis: “Children are repeatedly barred from learning due to climate-related disasters, from heatwaves to floods. With 26.2 million children already out of school, Pakistan cannot afford further educational setbacks. We hope for a swift reduction in floodwaters so that children can return to their classrooms, but prolonged closures could diminish the likelihood of their return.”

Since July 1, the monsoon has claimed 76 lives in the province, including 38 children. Flooded rivers have inundated homes across Sindh, displacing 140,000 children and families in 10 severely affected districts.

UNICEF is actively assessing needs and working with government and local partners to implement immediate and long-term response plans to restore educational access and support early recovery efforts.

Sindh, already reeling from the catastrophic floods of 2022, finds itself once again facing extreme weather, with children enduring the greatest hardship. Fadil emphasized the urgent need for investment in climate-resilient education and services: “The monsoon has once more disrupted lives across Pakistan. Children have lost their lives, homes, and schools. We urgently need to build a coalition to innovate and adapt to climate challenges and find lasting solutions for our children in this changing climate.”

Pakistan ranks 14th out of 163 countries on UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), indicating that children are at ‘extremely high risk’ from climate change and environmental shocks, which jeopardize their health, education, and future prospects.