PHILIPPINES EARTHQUAKE: 10 percent of learners still out of school as children terrified by thousands of aftershocks

MANILA, 8 October 2025 – One week after a deadly earthquake struck central  Philippines, about 2.7 million children - or 10 % of the country’s students -  are still out of school, with many too afraid to go to class due to the thousands of aftershocks still rocking the region, Save the Children said [1].

Over 2,200 schools in Cebu were damaged or destroyed in the 30 September 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 [2].

Thousands of aftershocks have also struck the area in recent days, further terrifying families, with some children telling Save the Children they are still too scared to return to school, fearing that buildings might cave in leaving them trapped.

Some children, desperately in need of clean water, have taken to holding up cardboard signs saying ‘Tubig’ which means water in Tagalog.

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*, 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.

Save the Children has been working in the Philippines since 1981 with programmes in humanitarian response, health and nutrition, education, and children's rights and protection.

Notes to editors

*Name changed to protect identity

[1] For the 2025–2026 School Year, the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) initially projected 27.6 million students for basic education. Approx. 2.7 million school aged children have had their education disrupted by the earthquake according to the Dept. of Education.

[2] https://ndrrmc.gov.ph/