BANGKOK, THAILAND – New floods and a nationwide survey revealed the scale of climate risks facing Thailand’s school system, with many facilities hit by extreme weather and lacking adequate support.
Flood damage and past disruptions to learning
Many districts in Ayutthaya province and other parts of Thailand had seen prolonged rainfall and severe flooding that disrupted classes and damaged school buildings. Local infrastructure and basic services were also affected. Recent floods followed a series of extreme weather events, including heavy rain triggered by Typhoon Yagi in 2024 that interrupted schooling for more than 19,000 students at 555 schools in northern Thailand, forcing teachers to switch to online lessons and home learning packages.
Nationwide UNICEF-NIDA survey of affected schools
Between July and August 2025, the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) carried out a survey of 329 public schools, including 14 schools for children with disabilities, with support from UNICEF. The sample covered institutions in 14 provinces that had been particularly exposed to extreme weather over the past three years, including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Yala and Narathiwat. Every surveyed school reported experiencing at least one extreme weather event in that period, identifying heavy rain, storms and floods as the most serious hazards.
Breakdowns in basic services and student health
The impacts went far beyond short-term class cancellations, with around three out of four schools reporting disruptions to basic services such as safe drinking water, toilets and sanitation, clean food in the canteen and transport to school. More than half (55 percent) reported health problems among students, including heat-related illnesses, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, malnutrition and mental stress. Nearly half (46 percent) recorded damage to buildings and infrastructure, while about one in two schools said they had never received support after extreme weather events.
Limited assistance and lack of long-term adaptation
Among schools that did receive help, support often remained limited in scope. According to the survey, the main measures offered were early warning messages about impending severe weather (41 percent), disaster preparedness training (35 percent) and emergency aid such as relief supplies (34 percent). Respondents indicated that comprehensive, long-term adaptation was largely absent, leaving many schools exposed to significant ongoing risks.
UNICEF: Children’s right to education under pressure
Severine Leonardi, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Thailand, voiced strong concern over the findings.
“The data paint a clear picture and show that every child’s right to education is increasingly threatened by the climate crisis.”
said Severine Leonardi, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Thailand.
She urged faster action.
“The climate crisis is not waiting; we must act with urgency. Schools need knowledge, infrastructure and resources so that children can learn safely even during floods or heatwaves. The costs of inaction will be measured in lost education and lost opportunities.”
said Severine Leonardi, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Thailand.
Schools expect more floods and heatwaves ahead
The survey showed that school leaders were aware of growing threats, with two thirds expecting heavier rainfall and more floods in the coming years. More than half (54 percent) anticipated stronger heatwaves. Schools cited children’s health as their main concern, ranging from illness and injuries to possible fatalities linked to extreme weather.
Preparedness rated as only moderate
When assessing their own readiness, 53 percent of schools described their disaster and climate preparedness as only “medium.” They highlighted urgent needs for training and learning opportunities for students on climate change and adaptation, professional development for teachers on climate resilience and emergency management, and reliable, timely early warning information on extreme weather. Almost all schools had integrated climate issues into lessons, but over 80 percent of teachers said they had never received formal training in climate education or handling extreme weather, often relying on self-study, and children’s knowledge of climate change was rated as low to medium.
Higher barriers for children with disabilities
Schools for children with disabilities reported particularly high demand for targeted assistance. They pointed to increased needs for specialized teacher training, modern learning materials and technical equipment, and sufficient funding for climate- and safety-related education programmes. As a result, children who already depended on extra support were among those most at risk from climate impacts on education.
Thailand among countries most affected by climate change
The study placed the situation in a global context, noting that according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2025, Thailand ranked 30th among the countries most affected by climate change. A UNICEF global analysis from 2021 put Thailand 50th out of 163 countries where children are particularly threatened by climate impacts, while the 2023 report “Over the Tipping Point” estimated that 10.8 million children in Thailand faced high risk from flooding and water scarcity.
Call for investment in climate-resilient education
Leonardi stressed that schools were at the centre of climate impacts.
“Schools are on the front line of the climate crisis.”
said Severine Leonardi, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Thailand.
“We must now invest in strengthening their capacity to adapt and ensure that every child – including those in flood-prone and remote areas – can continue learning safely. Preparing schools and the entire education system for a changing climate is not optional; it is essential for every child’s future.”
said Severine Leonardi, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Thailand.
To achieve this, UNICEF was working with the Ministry of Education, the Department of Climate Change and Environment and other partners to implement “Climate Smart Education” so that schools across the country become safer, more resilient and more inclusive.