When Tino Struck: A Blow to Education
The Aftermath of Typhoon Tino
In early November 2025, Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) swept across the Philippines with winds of up to 155 km/h, battering provinces in Central and Western Visayas, Palawan, and Northern Mindanao. While communities struggled with floods and power outages, the education sector bore a heavy blow — thousands of students displaced, classrooms destroyed, and schools turned into evacuation centers.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), more than 20,600 schools across nine regions suspended classes due to the typhoon, while 76 schools reported varying levels of damage.
“Education continuity remains our priority, but the safety of our learners and personnel comes first,” — DepEd Spokesperson, November 2025.
📊 The Extent of the Damage
Here’s what the latest reports from GMA News, Manila Bulletin, and Philippine News Agency reveal about the impact of Typhoon Tino on schools:
- 20,682 schools suspended classes nationwide.
- 76 schools sustained structural damage in Regions VI, VII, VIII, and NIR.
- 64 classrooms totally damaged, 91 classrooms with major damage, and 237 classrooms with minor damage.
- 2,507 classrooms in 522 schools were used as temporary evacuation centers.
- ₱13 million allocated for cleanup and minor repair operations.
How Typhoon Tino Affected Education and Learning
1. Class Suspensions and Missed Learning Days
The storm’s path forced massive class suspensions, halting lessons for weeks in Visayas and Mindanao. Many schools that remained structurally sound had to close temporarily to serve as shelters for displaced families.
2. Damage to Educational Infrastructure
From collapsed roofs to flooded classrooms, the destruction of school buildings directly disrupted learning continuity. Students in remote areas face a slower recovery, with some still without proper learning spaces as of November 2025.
3. Emotional and Psychological Impact on Learners
The trauma of evacuation, property loss, and uncertainty takes a toll on students and teachers. Many affected learners will require psychosocial support as part of recovery.
4. Recovery Costs and Resource Gaps
DepEd’s initial ₱13 million estimate only covers minor repair and cleanup. Full rehabilitation across all damaged schools will likely cost hundreds of millions of pesos, especially for total reconstruction and disaster-resilient designs.
Building Back Better: Resilience in Education 🌱
The damage caused by Typhoon Tino reveals a crucial truth, education resilience must go beyond classroom walls. Here’s how schools can strengthen disaster preparedness:
- Conduct structural assessments after every major storm.
- Create digital backup systems (e.g., WELA’s Smart Grade and AI Lesson Planner) to ensure learning continuity.
- Implement disaster-response modules in the curriculum.
- Develop hybrid learning plans that can shift online during calamities.
- Partner with private sector and NGOs to mobilize funds and materials for recovery.
💡 How WELA+ Is Helping
At Wela School Systems, we stand in solidarity with all schools affected by Typhoon Tino, especially our partner institutions across Cebu, Negros, and the rest of Visayas.
Our mission goes beyond digital transformation. We are committed to:
- Helping partner schools restore and digitize their learning processes during crises.
- Providing tools like WELA Silid LMS and Mobile App to simplify class management amid disruptions.
- Supporting DepEd’s goal of education continuity and digital readiness in disaster-prone areas.
🧭 Moving Forward
Typhoon Tino may have damaged buildings and delayed classes, but it also highlighted the resilience and unity of the Filipino education community. With collaboration among DepEd, local governments, and private partners like Wela School Systems, recovery isn’t just possible, it’s already underway.