What are the likely impacts of rising temperatures on students and how are countries adapting?

This OECD policy brief examines the growing challenges that rising global temperatures pose to education systems, spcifically focusing on how extreme heat affects students' health, cognitive performance, and overall learning outcomes. 

The report highlights that by 2050, a significantly higher number of students in OECD countries will be exposed to extreme heat during school days, which directly undermines academic achievement and well-being. To mitigate these risks, the document outlines various adaptation strategies currently being implemented or considered by different nations, such as modifying school calendars and timetables, investing in sustainable cooling infrastructure, and redesigning outdoor school environments. 

It also emphasizes the importance of balancing these interventions, noting that while infrastructure upgrades are effective but costly, administrative changes like adjusting schedules must be carefully managed to prevent a loss of total instruction time.

https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2026/03/what-are-the-likely-impacts-of-rising-temperatures-on-students-and-how-are-countries-adapting_c75d6817/960244d5-en.pdf