SOUTHERN THAILAND – Severe flooding in the south halted classes for tens of thousands of children and exposed重大 gaps in how schools were prepared for climate extremes.
Floods shut classrooms for tens of thousands
According to the Ministry of Education, about 148,000 students and 8,290 teachers had been affected by the recent floods in the south by 4 December, with the province of Songkhla hit hardest. A total of 1,090 schools were damaged, leaving many communities facing a long and difficult rebuilding process.
The floods struck a region that had already suffered for years from extreme weather. Even before the latest disaster, schools in Songkhla, Yala and Narathiwat had repeatedly struggled with heavy rain and flooding that interrupted lessons.
Survey reveals systemic vulnerability
A joint UNICEF–NIDA survey was carried out between July and August 2025 at 329 public schools in 14 weather‑prone provinces, including 14 institutions for children with disabilities. In the three southern provinces, data were collected from 49 schools in Songkhla, 24 in Yala and 37 in Narathiwat.
Schools in all three provinces reported a recurring pattern of intense rainfall and heavy flooding that seriously disrupted learning. In Songkhla, almost 80 percent of schools reported outages in electricity and water supply, as well as problems with safe drinking water and food.
In Yala, three out of four schools expected health risks – from disease to injuries – to worsen if floods became more intense. Narathiwat recorded the highest burden from extreme weather, especially flooding, with many schools facing limited access to safe water and losing numerous teaching days.
Poor training, weak emergency planning
The study documented serious shortcomings in preparation for climate‑related events. Around half of the teachers in the three provinces said they had never received any climate‑ or disaster‑related training, and many schools rated their own level of preparedness only as “moderate”.
Students were reported to have only a limited understanding of climate change and of how to protect themselves during floods or other emergencies. Three quarters of schools identified the need for training on climate and disaster protection for teachers and children, school‑level early warning systems, and practical drills and concrete preparedness measures on campus.
Many institutions also said they had received little or no support after previous extreme weather events. Severine Leonardi, deputy UNICEF representative, stressed that patterns of vulnerability were similar across the provinces.
“Whether it is access to clean water, food, sanitation, safer classrooms or trained teachers – children now need stronger protection to limit harm and prevent further learning loss from future extreme weather events.”
said Leonardi, deputy UNICEF representative.
Emergency relief and support for families
During the current flooding, UNICEF supported local authorities in supplying affected families. Hygiene kits and basic relief items, including diapers, blankets and mosquito repellent, were distributed to almost 18,000 children and families in Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala to reduce additional health risks.
Additional products were provided for young children, along with so‑called “Magic Bags” containing toys, colouring books and learning materials to preserve a sense of normal life and learning opportunities during the crisis. UNICEF stated it was ready to work with the government and education authorities to set up temporary learning spaces and provide cash assistance to the most vulnerable families, for example to purchase school uniforms and learning materials.
Building climate-resilient schools
Over the longer term, UNICEF was working with the Ministry of Education, the Department of Climate Change and Environment and other partners on a “Climate Smart Education” concept. The aim was to make schools nationwide safer, more resilient and more inclusive.
Guidelines for rebuilding schools with climate‑resilient infrastructure and stronger systems were being developed jointly.
“When reconstruction begins, we have the chance to make schools stronger than before,”
said Leonardi, adding:
“Every child deserves a safe place to live and learn – today and in every future climate.”
Rising climate risks for millions of children
The urgency was underscored by international indicators. The country rose in the Climate Risk Index 2026 of the organisation Germanwatch from 72nd to 17th place, a clear sign of growing vulnerability to extreme weather.
According to UNICEF’s 2023 report “Over the Tipping Point”, 10.8 million children in the country were heavily affected by flooding and water scarcity. Children born today in East Asia and the Pacific were expected to experience six times more climate‑related disasters than their grandparents, the report said.