More than a week after Super Typhoon #NandoPH battered the northernmost islands of Luzon, schools in Calayan, Cagayan remain damaged heavily, leaving hundreds of children unable to return to class.

In Babuyan Claro, one of the five island barangays of Calayan, residents are still repairing homes while teachers scramble to find ways to continue classes.

The Babuyan Claro Integrated School was among the hardest hit, with 27 classrooms destroyed. Nearby, the Kadinakan Elementary School also sustained massive damage.

“Sa Babuyan Claro Integrated School, tanging ‘yung naiwan lang is ‘yung semento. ‘Yung bubong talaga is nalipad kasama na ‘yung kahoy. Kasi mga kahoy ang ginagamit natin dito hindi steel brust. Yung isang school naman Kadinakan pinadapa lahat kasi nga mas maliit na school building ‘yun. Halos dumapa lahat ang tatlong building. Yung bagong building lang ang naiwan,” Bernardo Nuñez Jr., school head of both institutions, said.

Calayan island has a population of over 2,000, with more than 500 students affected by the disaster. Nuñez said their priority is to secure school materials that survived the storm.

“Doon sa mga stock room namin sa mga office namin du’n natin sinafety ‘yung gamit natin like printers, bondpaper, ginagamit namin kasi ‘yan na learning materials ‘yan,” he added.

To keep learning alive, teachers have adopted an “Adopt-a-Class” program, where they visit homes or find safe spaces in the community to teach students.

“But then may suggestion from the division office na sikapin naming mapuntahan yung mga bata, pagsama-samahin sa small areas na pwede pa ring magkaroon pa rin ng interaction, meron pa ring learning,” Nuñez said.

On the mainland, the Calayan Central School in Barangay Poblacion also lost several classrooms.

Principal Arlynne Asuncion said recovery may take months and appealed for urgent help.

“Nakakaawa po talaga mga kababayan natin dito. So, sa mga may magagandang puso diyan tulungan po kami dito. Kailangan po namin ng pagkain. Pati ‘yung mga books, module basang-basa. Wala kaming magamit sa pag-aaral. Pati po libro, ‘yung printers, computer halos basa po lahat ‘yun kasi nagliparan po ang bubong ng mga gusali,” she said.

Teachers and parents now hope for immediate assistance so students can resume face-to-face classes soon.