Colombia's Education Ministry orders schools to prepare for possible El Niño in 2026

Facing a 61% probability that the El Niño phenomenon will develop in the second half of 2026, Colombia's Ministry of Education (MEN) called on territorial education secretariats and individual schools to strengthen preventive actions. The ministry highlighted risks such as reduced rainfall, higher temperatures, droughts, forest fires, water shortages and disruptions to school operations.

MEN urged schools to review and update their Territorial and Institutional Integral School Risk Management Plans, pinpoint facilities most exposed to heat or water scarcity, assess hazards to school transport and food supply, guarantee access to potable water, improve classroom ventilation and conduct emergency drills. Staff are to receive training in first aid and emergency response, while students are encouraged to stay hydrated, use shaded areas and limit strenuous activities during peak heat. The measures are part of the GIRE policy aimed at ensuring safe, resilient educational environments amid climate variability.