MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines' sweltering heat is not only likely to curb agricultural production, disrupt water and power, and weigh on businesses, it is also hurting students and disrupting the education sector. This is hindering the efforts of Southeast Asian countries to catch up with their neighbors.
In the Philippines, the El Niño weather phenomenon added to the heat that gripped the country during the summer months from March to May, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in various regions.
According to the International Student Assessment Program, an international survey of education systems, the Philippines has some of the lowest scores in the world in math, science and reading, partly due to years of inadequate remote learning during the pandemic. It is said that this is the cause.
Kurt Mafusai, 23, a high school student whose education was interrupted due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said, “It's very hot right now. It's burning my skin. It's different from the normal (summer) heat. It's different, it's not tolerable.”
Thousands of schools have canceled classes due to the heat, affecting more than 3.6 million students, according to Education Ministry data.
“In May, we expect more classes to be canceled due to the heatwave. Average temperatures are over 52 degrees Celsius (125°F) and how stressful that will be for learners. You can imagine,” said Xerxes Castro. Basic education advisor for Save the Children Philippines.
Withering heat is spreading across much of South and Southeast Asia and is being exacerbated by climate change, making learning difficult for students.
According to Save the Children Philippines, children are especially susceptible to heat-related illnesses such as dizziness, vomiting and fainting when exposed to extreme heat for long periods of time.
Students and teachers have expressed concern about the difficulties of distance education and learning, especially in poorer areas where homes are not suitable for learning and may not have access to a good internet connection.
Esmaila Solaiman, a 20-year-old high school student whose studies have been delayed due to the pandemic, said after attending online classes from home that the heat “made me dizzy and I couldn't concentrate.”
Students attending in-person classes in the capital, Manila, are relying on portable fans, notebooks and even cardboard boxes to provide some ventilation to help ease their mood.
“My blood pressure is already rising because of the heat,” said Memia Santos, a 62-year-old middle school teacher. My back gets wet and sometimes I feel dizzy.
(Reporting by Adrian Portugal; Writing by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by William Mallard)
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