12,000 Girls at Risk: Powerful UNESCO Support for Girls’ Education Recovery After Pakistan Floods
UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods through a climate-resilient recovery plan in Swat, restoring schools, sanitation, and safety for girls.
UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods as thousands of students in Swat district struggle to continue learning safely after the devastating 2025 monsoon season. A rapid assessment by UNESCO has revealed extensive damage to school infrastructure, water systems, sanitation facilities, and protective boundaries—putting more than 12,000 girls’ education at risk.
The findings underline an urgent reality: without immediate and climate-resilient recovery, floods will continue to erase hard-won gains in girls’ education across Pakistan.
Overview: Education after the 2025 floods
The 2025 monsoon floods once again exposed Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district, swollen rivers and landslides damaged dozens of government schools, disproportionately affecting girls’ access to education.
As climate shocks become more frequent, UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods by focusing not only on repairs, but on long-term resilience that protects students from future disasters.
UNESCO’s rapid assessment in Swat
In January 2026, UNESCO launched a Rapid Education Infrastructure Damage and Climate Resilience Assessment across 120 Government Girls Primary Schools (GGPS) in the flood-affected sub-districts of:
- Bahrain
- Charbagh
- Khwazakhela
- Matta
The assessment was conducted in close collaboration with the District Education Department of Swat, ensuring local ownership and community participation.
Key findings: Damage to girls’ schools
The assessment revealed alarming levels of structural and service-related damage:
- More than 12,000 girls affected, many continuing classes in unsafe conditions
- 46% of schools reported leaking or damaged roofs
- 31% had damaged boundary walls, raising serious protection concerns
- 25% lacked safe drinking water
- 35% had non-functional sanitation facilities
These conditions directly impact attendance, safety, and learning outcomes—especially for adolescent girls.
According to UNESCO, UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods by prioritizing schools that face repeated climate exposure due to their proximity to rivers, streams, and landslide-prone slopes.
Water, sanitation, and dignity in learning
For girls, access to clean water and functional toilets is not optional—it is essential.
Flood damage to toilets and water systems has become one of the largest hidden barriers to girls’ education. Many parents hesitate to send their daughters back to schools where privacy, hygiene, and safety cannot be guaranteed.
UNESCO’s findings show:
- Poor sanitation directly reduces attendance
- Adolescent girls are the most affected
- Schools without water facilities struggle to reopen fully
This is why UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods by placing WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) restoration at the center of recovery efforts.
Psychosocial risks facing flood-affected girls
Beyond physical damage, the floods have left deep emotional scars.
A staggering 93% of assessed schools lacked any functional psychosocial support or protection referral mechanism. This leaves children—especially girls—without structured help to cope with trauma, displacement, and fear.
UNESCO recommends:
- School-based psychosocial support systems
- Referral pathways for vulnerable children
- Teacher training in psychological first aid
Without these measures, flood recovery remains incomplete.
Communities stepping up despite limited resources
Despite hardship, local communities in Swat have demonstrated remarkable resilience.
Parent Teacher Councils (PTCs) and school staff actively participated in assessments and prioritized urgent needs such as:
- Roof repairs
- Toilets restoration
- Boundary wall reconstruction
- Clean water access
Families consistently emphasized that safe infrastructure restores trust, encouraging parents to send girls back to school.
This community engagement strengthens UNESCO’s approach, proving that UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods through partnership—not top-down intervention.
From emergency repairs to climate resilience
UNESCO’s assessment stresses that rebuilding schools exactly as they were is not enough.
Instead, it calls for risk-informed, climate-resilient recovery, particularly for schools in high-risk zones.
Key recommendations include:
Making schools safe
- Repair and reinforce roofs and walls
- Restore electricity and classroom safety
- Secure school boundaries for protection
Fixing water and sanitation
- Safe drinking water systems
- Fully functional girls’ toilets
- Hygiene facilities suitable for emergencies
Protecting learners
- Psychosocial support services
- Protection referral mechanisms
- Gender-sensitive safety protocols
Preparing for future shocks
- Disaster preparedness plans
- Early warning systems
- Climate-resilient school design standards
This long-term vision ensures UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods not just today—but for decades to come.
Why climate-resilient schools matter for Pakistan
Pakistan is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, according to the
UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Repeated flooding threatens:
- Girls’ education continuity
- Gender equality gains
- National development goals
Climate-resilient schools reduce:
- Learning disruptions
- Dropout rates
- Disaster-related trauma
They also align with Pakistan’s commitments under the
UN Sustainable Development Goals
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The road ahead for girls’ education in Swat
Swat’s girls have shown extraordinary determination—continuing their studies despite unsafe classrooms, damaged facilities, and emotional distress.
But resilience alone is not enough.
Sustained investment, coordinated recovery, and climate-smart planning are essential to protect education from future disasters. By acting early, UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods in a way that strengthens entire communities.
Conclusion: Protecting the right to learn
The 2025 floods were a warning.
Without climate-resilient recovery, Pakistan risks losing a generation of girls to repeated disasters. UNESCO’s rapid assessment in Swat offers a clear roadmap—one that places safety, dignity, resilience, and equity at the heart of education recovery.
By rebuilding smarter, stronger, and fairer, UNESCO supports girls’ education after Pakistan floods and upholds every girl’s fundamental right to learn—whatever the weather.
