The Silent Crises: Climate Change and Its Adverse Impacts on Children’s Education in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study of District Charsadda

Abstract

Climate change has emerged as one of the greatest challenges affecting livelihoods, ecosystems, and the educational development of children in climate-vulnerable areas. Pakistan is among the countries highly exposed to climate-related disasters, where rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and recurrent floods continue to disrupt educational infrastructure and systems. Despite growing research on climate vulnerability, limited attention has been given to understanding how climate change affects children's education at the community level. This study explores the adverse effects of climate change on the education sector in District Charsadda, Pakistan. A qualitative research approach was adopted to examine the experiences and perceptions of local communities. Three union councils, namely Batagram, Mirzadher, and Kot, representing the three tehsils of District Charsadda, were purposively selected due to their exposure to climate-related risks. Data were collected through three focus group discussions, with 25 participants in each group, resulting in a total of 75 participants. Thematic analysis was employed to identify major themes and recurring patterns in the data. The findings reveal that recurrent floods and other climate-related hazards have damaged educational infrastructure and generated health and economic hardships, child labour, psychological stress, gender inequalities, and displacement, thereby affecting educational access, attendance, academic performance, and school retention. Girls were found to experience greater social and educational challenges due to prevailing socioeconomic constraints. The findings further indicate inadequate institutional preparedness and limited climate-resilient educational planning. The study concludes that integrating climate adaptation into educational policies, strengthening disaster preparedness, improving school infrastructure, and enhancing community participation are essential for protecting children's right to education in climate-sensitive areas.