Climate Change Threatens Zimbabwe's Education System: UNESCO-UNICEF Partnership Aims to Curb Its Impact

Strategic Insights -

Climate change is exerting significant pressure on Zimbabwe's education system, with scorching temperatures, floods, and cyclones posing a substantial threat to learners and teachers. In a bid to mitigate this impact, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) of UNESCO and the Global Partnership for Education, has adapted the annual school census to incorporate climate-related questions. The revamped census, known as ED46, aims to gather data on climate-resilient designs, early warning systems, evacuation plans, and other critical factors that can help protect learners and teachers from natural hazards.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, with support from IIEP-UNESCO and funding from the Global Partnership for Education, has updated the annual school census, ED46, to reflect climate change effects on education.
  • The updated census includes more detailed questions about climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR), such as conducting risk assessments, having early warning systems, holding emergency drills, and having climate-resilient school facilities.
  • Other climate-related questions in the revised census focus on tree-planting, water harvesting, digitalizing school records, and receiving funding for climate change issues.
  • The primary goal of the updated ED46 is to help the education sector move from reactive to proactive planning by establishing a clearer picture of preparedness and climate adaptation measures at the school level.
  • The Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) conducted a diagnostic report in 2025, which identified key gaps in Zimbabwe's education data ecosystem and recommended new climate-related questions for the Ministry to integrate into their annual school census.

Statistics:

  • The global partnership aims to address climate-related challenges in Zimbabwe's education system.
  • 84% of Zimbabwean schools lay vulnerable to climate-related threats, emphasizing the need for urgent climate action through data-driven policies.
  • Over 50% of the country's school facilities lack climate-resilient designs, highlighting the need for infrastructure rehabilitation.

Sources:

  • The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  • The Global Partnership for Education
  • The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) of UNESCO