Stakeholders from the Chhattisgarh state government, education department, academia, and international development organisations gathered in Raipur on November 27, 2025, for EduResilience 2025. The state-level summit focused on integrating climate education, school safety, and participatory resilience models into classrooms across Chhattisgarh. Over 70 Block Resource Coordinators, key officials supporting schools and teacher development, attended to strengthen implementation at the grassroots level.
Collaborative Initiative for Climate-Resilient Education
EduResilience 2025 is part of a collaborative effort led by IISER Pune under the CARE (Communicating Action and Resilience for Environmental Health) Project, in partnership with Samagra Shiksha Chhattisgarh and UNICEF. The initiative aims to equip schools with the tools and knowledge to respond to climate-related risks, improve preparedness among students and educators, and ensure continuity of learning during disruptions caused by environmental hazards.
Keynote Insights: Climate Resilience as a Core Educational Goal
Dr. M. Sudhish, Head of the State Pedagogy Cell, Samagra Shiksha Raipur, highlighted that building climate resilience in schools is “no longer optional but foundational for safeguarding learning continuity and wellbeing.” Dr. Shalini Sharma, Associate Professor at IISER Pune and Lead of the CARE Project, emphasized that integrating climate-responsive thinking and experiential learning into schools honours the fundamental child right to a liveable future. “We are not just teaching children about the world; we are equipping them to use that knowledge to take action,” she stated.
Multi-Stakeholder Panel Discusses Strategies for Integration
A panel discussion featuring representatives from Samagra Shiksha, UNICEF, and IISER Pune explored strategies for embedding climate education and resilience practices into school governance and pedagogy. Vishal Vasvani, Emergency Officer at UNICEF, stressed that ensuring safe and continuous learning during climate-related disruptions is central to UNICEF’s work on climate action and school safety.
Hands-On Learning and Practical Demonstrations
Participants engaged in practical exercises, analyzing climate data such as rainfall and temperature trends to inform school-level climate action plans. Science education practitioners Mr. Ashok Rupner and Mr. Ankish Tripude from the Science Activity Centre, IISER Pune, conducted demonstrations showcasing activity-based learning approaches tailored for government school settings.
A Foundational Step Toward Long-Term Climate Literacy
Organizers reaffirmed that EduResilience 2025 represents a foundational step in building a long-term framework for climate literacy and resilience among children in Chhattisgarh, particularly those in climate-sensitive and high-risk regions. The initiative sets a precedent for integrating environmental awareness, disaster preparedness, and practical resilience skills into the core school curriculum.
