Beyond Four Walls: Forging Climate-Resilient Education in the Philippines

The air in Maria’s classroom in Dagupan City is thick and still, heavy with a heat that feels more like a physical presence than a temperature. It’s only 10 a.m., but the sweat is already beading on her forehead as she tries to focus on the algebraic equations on the blackboard. Outside, the sun beats down with an unforgiving intensity, pushing the heat index to a level deemed dangerous. This scene is not an anomaly; it became the norm across the Philippines in 2024, forcing the Department of Education (DepEd) to suspend in-person classes for millions of students, creating yet another massive disruption to their learning. This is the new, harsh reality of education on the front lines of the climate crisis.