More than a week after a deadly earthquake struck central Philippines, about 2.7 million children, or 10 percent of the country’s students, remain out of school or affected, with many too afraid to return to class as thousands of aftershocks continue to shake the region.
According to the Department of Education’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service, over 2,200 schools were affected in the 6.9 magnitude earthquake, with debris strewn across playgrounds, roads and outbuildings, and more than 1,800 classrooms now totally unusable. Toilets and washing facilities at more than 200 schools have also been significantly damaged.
Thousands of aftershocks have also struck the area in recent days, further terrifying families, with some children telling Save the Children Philippines they are still too scared to return to school, fearing that buildings might cave in leaving them trapped.
The Philippines sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and is no stranger to earthquakes and aftershocks, but this earthquake was the deadliest the country has experienced in at least a decade, killing some 72 people and injuring a further 294 people.
Jade* (not her real name), 13, who is currently staying with her family in a makeshift tent, said:
“The trauma is still there. Every time the ground moves, I get scared again. We don’t have information yet about our school. I don’t know if there are damages, but our adviser checked on us and asked if we were okay.”
Save the Children provided hygiene kits to Jade and her family.
Children in Cebu are still in urgent need of water, shelter, psychosocial support to help them to process what they experienced and to prevent long-term setbacks in education, said Save the Children. They also need learning materials and access to safe learning spaces while the province rebuilds schools and other infrastructure.
Faisah Ali, Humanitarian Manager, Save the Children Philippines, said:
“Even following the chaos of an earthquake, children’s learning should not stop. We’re with them, helping children to cope, offering psychosocial support, and protecting their wellbeing. We're also working to give them safe spaces where they can study, play, and feel like children again. We welcome everyone’s support to make this possible.”
Save the Children is on the ground in Cebu and is working with partners to distribute food, water, and hygiene kits to families. The organization is also preparing to establish temporary learning spaces so children can continue their education. To know how you can help, connect with us through our website, social media, or email us at supportercare.ph@savethechildren.org.
1 For the 2025–2026 School Year, the Department of Education (DepEd) initially projected 27.6 million students for basic education. Approximately 2.7 million school aged children have had their education disrupted by the earthquake according to DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service.