Scorching heat widens learning gap

Abiding by the state government’s order, Odisha had started its schools from 6:30 am during April this year. The mid-day meal was served at 10:00 am and students were sent home by 10:30 am. Every year, as the heat wave conditions intensify, schools are ordered either to shut down or alter the timings. As this trend emerges again, focus towards understanding the effect on learning increases. So, what happens to the learning capacity of students when there’s a rise in mercury levels? Scorching heat widens learning gap Scorching heat widens learning gap Scorching heat widens learning gap

With escalation in the temperature, students become uncomfortable, sluggish, more likely to sleep in class, more irritable and fretful. Studies have confirmed that the rise of every one degree in the weather increases the gap in academic achievement of the students.

At the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness’ Spring 2019 conference, National Bureau of Economic Research working paper revealed that— more than a decade of PSAT scores from over 10 million high school students show scores fell one percent for every degree higher the school’s temperature rose over the previous year’s average.

As a result, there’s an increase in the number of private schools offering Air conditioning facilities. While education undergoes evolution due to the technological transformation by humans, a drastic shift in the weather conditions have also demanded the availability of 21st century institutions. However, some parents are still against their child studying in AC classrooms as it might lead to the fostering of a non-resilient citizen. Possibility of this consequence cannot be denied. But the truth still remains- higher the temperature, lower the academic performance.