Global heatwave impacts student performance, resulting in underachievement on a global scale
Prolonged heat exposure in schools is negatively impacting students' cognitive abilities and academic performance, particularly in complex subjects such as mathematics. A study involving nearly 14.5 million students across 61 countries found that a drop of just 1 degree Celsius in classroom temperature can lead to a 7.5% increase in students' speed and a 0.6% increase in their accuracy.
The effects of heat on cognitive performance pose a threat to the future of humanity, according to Dr. Marc Futernick. The findings show a correlation between heat exposure over time and lower scores in math and other complex cognitive tasks among elementary, middle, and high school students.
Students from lower-income families, especially in underserved areas, face greater vulnerability due to limited access to cooling. In Los Angeles, for example, public school starts in August, exposing students to heat while at school, and affecting those attending under-resourced campuses more. Future climate scenarios predict that students in currently cooler regions may start to suffer the same problems as those in warmer climates if current warming trends continue without adequate adaptation measures.
The physiological stress caused by heat reduces attention, increases restlessness, and impairs memory formation and recall, further hindering learning in complex subjects. Students in classrooms without adequate temperature control typically experience reduced cognitive performance even on moderately hot days (80-90°F or 27-32°C).
Adaptive strategies to mitigate heat's detrimental effects in schools include improving classroom temperature regulation, optimizing classroom layouts, enhancing natural and artificial lighting, providing ergonomic furniture, and prioritizing access to air conditioning or cooling resources at schools and homes in low-income areas. Scheduling more cognitively demanding tasks during cooler parts of the day and incorporating more breaks can also help reduce heat stress.
These strategies are crucial in maintaining students' cognitive function and academic achievement amid rising global temperatures, especially in marginalized populations disproportionately affected by heat. However, many schools, particularly those in underserved areas, lack the resources to implement them effectively.
The study highlights the urgent need for policymakers and education leaders to prioritize protecting students from rising temperatures to prevent intensified educational disparities. The co-author of the study, Konstantina Vasilakopoulou of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, emphasized that the effects of heat exposure on learning are often not seen until much later.
Racial disparities were evident in the data, with Black and Latino students in the U.S. seeing up to three times greater cognitive losses due to heat compared to their white peers. Community-driven initiatives like the "cool communities initiative" in the Pacoima neighborhood of L.A. have shown success in improving neighborhood temperature comfort. Climate Resolve has advocated for solutions like "cool roofs," increased tree planting, and cool pavement technologies to reduce temperatures.
However, no current indoor heat standard exists for schools, making it essential for policymakers to address this issue and ensure that all students have access to a comfortable learning environment.
The study on heat exposure's impact on students' academic performance highlights the potential threat to humanity's future, as prolonged exposure affects cognitive abilities, particularly in complex subjects like mathematics. Students from lower-income families, especially in underserved areas, are more vulnerable to these effects due to limited access to cooling. Incorporating environmental science in education-and-self-development programs could help address climate-change-related problems like heat exposure, fostering the development of future scientists. Adopting strategies like optimizing classroom temperature, providing ergonomic furniture, and scheduling tasks during cooler parts of the day can help reduce heat stress and improve students' cognitive performance. However, the lack of indoor heat standards in schools necessitates policymakers' attention to ensure all students have a comfortable learning environment, addressing educational disparities and promoting equities.
