Video | Early holiday, more fans: Philippine schools implement measures to cope with extreme heat

Teacher Lolita Akim keeps five standing fans running as she tries to hold the attention of her pint-sized pupils at a kindergarten in the Philippine capital.

Akim is among many educators on the front lines of a fight to keep students safe and engaged in Manila’s soaring heat. Authorities agreed to adjust the school calendar in the 2024-25 academic year so the term ends before peak heat arrives in May.

Class times have also been shifted to avoid having children exposed to midday heat, and most schools have set up fans and water stations. The moves are part of the nation’s efforts, often using limited resources, to adapt to higher temperatures blamed on climate change.