The Cool School Manual

Extreme temperatures gripping our cities are no longer confined to the summer months. As the mercury rises higher each year, children are becoming among the most vulnerable. Prolonged hours in thermally uncomfortable classrooms, hot commutes through heat-absorbing cityscapes, and outdoor activities during peak temperatures expose them to risks of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.

While policies like the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) School Safety Policy and Heat Action Plans (HAPs) recognize children’s vulnerability to heat, they fall short of offering specific, actionable measures to safeguard them in school environments. Broad recommendations often lack detail, and most plans remain advisory, with no mandatory enforcement or accountability mechanisms to ensure effective implementation in schools.

This report underscores the urgent need to transform school ecosystems to build resilience against rising temperatures. It offers actionable steps for school management to improve thermal comfort, integrating climate-responsive, passive solutions. These interventions are designed to integrate into students' routines and school infrastructure, ensuring their safety, adaptability, and well-being.