Dhaka:Bangladesh is intensifying efforts to integrate climate, disaster, and education data to bolster its education system against climate change impacts and protect children's learning from interruptions due to extreme weather events.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the country faces ongoing threats from floods, cyclones, and heatwaves, which disrupt educational infrastructure and processes nationwide. Fragmented climate and education-related information across various institutions complicates the identification of vulnerable schools and the prioritization of support efforts.
In response, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME), with UNESCO's support, are enhancing coordination among data systems and expanding climate-related data availability for educational planning. A recent three-day national workshop under the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) at Hotel Holiday Inn in Dhaka gathered officials, planners, and experts to address data gaps and improve information sharing.
The workshop reviewed and validated existing education, climate, and disaster data sources, assessed information gaps, and identified improvement priorities. Discussions included potential changes to the Annual Primary School Statistics (APSS), aiming for better data-sharing and system interoperability and considering future climate-related data collection variables.
Delwora Begum, Additional Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, MoE, stressed the need to protect educational investments from climate-related risks. UNESCO Dhaka's Head of Education, Norihide Furukawa, emphasized the necessity of connected information systems to enable informed decision-making to safeguard schools and learning.
Chaired by Rokeya Khaton, Joint Secretary and Development Wing Chief at MoE, the workshop builds on previous CSESI activities, focusing on climate risks and institutional capacities. The initiative, led by MoE and MoPME with UNESCO and UNESCO-IIEP technical support and GPE funding, aims to integrate climate resilience into Bangladesh's education policies, plans, and strategies.