Bangladesh is ramping up efforts to enhance its education sector planning to tackle the growing impact of climate change.
On 10 May 2026, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME), with support from UNESCO, UNESCO-IIEP, Save the Children, and GPE, launched a three-day national workshop in Dhaka under the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI).
The workshop, running until 12 May, brings together over 30 education officials and experts to assess current capacities and improve climate risk analysis for the education sector.
In his opening speech, Abdul Khaleque, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division at MoE, stressed the importance of identifying strengths and areas for improvement to enhance policy effectiveness.
Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative, highlighted the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms and systems to address climate risks. She emphasized improving coordination and preparedness at all levels to ensure learning continuity and protect students’ wellbeing.
Bodrun Nahar, Additional Secretary (Development) at MoE, discussed the importance of climate data and financing for education.
Bangladesh, ranked 178th out of 187 countries in the 2025 Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, faces significant climate challenges. Nearly 16,000 educational institutions were affected by climate-related disasters in 2023, disrupting school attendance, infrastructure, and learning outcomes.
This workshop is part of a national effort to create Bangladesh’s first climate risk analysis for the education sector, aiming to guide stronger policies, infrastructure investments, and targeted climate finance for schools.
