Malawi: Schools Urged to Adapt As Heatwave Warning Issued Across Malawi

What the report says

Schools across Malawi have been told to take immediate steps to protect learners and staff after the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services issued a heatwave alert, according to Nyasa Times as republished by AllAfrica. The warning covers multiple parts of the country, including the Southern Region, where temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 42C, with elevated heat also expected in central, northern and lakeshore areas.

In response, the education ministry said schools and other learning institutions should put in place practical measures to reduce exposure to extreme heat while keeping classes running. These include adjusting timetables, relaxing uniform rules where needed and using more flexible learning arrangements. The guidance also asks schools to pause or move outdoor activities such as sports, assemblies, parades and manual work during the hottest hours of the day.

The ministry further advised schools to ensure regular access to safe drinking water, encourage hydration, improve classroom ventilation and use shaded areas to avoid overcrowding. Special attention was urged for vulnerable groups, including young children, people with albinism, pregnant staff and those with chronic health conditions.

The advisory fits into broader efforts to limit the health and learning impacts of extreme weather. For context, climate-related heat alerts are increasingly prompting schools in southern Africa to adapt daily routines and safeguard students during hot spells, although the specific measures and timing here are those reported in the published Malawi article.