Despite a dearth of educational institutions, the government of Bohol, stricken by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Oct 15, has announced it will resume classes on Nov 5.

Local media outlet ANC News reported on Tuesday that a total of 27 public schools in the said Philippine province have been declared "totally damaged" because of the major temblor. The development has prompted the Department of Education in Bohol to devise a plan that will execute a 2-shift system in some schools with still fit-for-use classrooms to enable the students to go back to their studies.

Commuters walk near the damaged portion of a highway in Loay, Bohol, after an earthquake struck central Philippines October 17, 2013. The Philippines started to clear roads blocked by debris on Thursday as it reckoned up the cost of this week's powerful earthquake, with the death toll rising to at least 158. Tens of thousands of residents of Bohol island, which took the brunt of Tuesday's 7.2 magnitude quake, remained living outdoors, for fear of aftershocks bringing down damaged homes. REUTERS/Erik De Castro (PHILIPPINES - Tags: DISASTER)

Read: Bohol PH Quake Update: Businesses Resume, Death Toll Hits 195, Total Damages At AU$24M

Consequently on Tuesday, the government agency started to give stress debriefing sessions to its state teachers in preparation for the Nov 5 class resumptions.

Aftershocks of the magnitude-7.2 quake on Tuesday morning have reached the 3,000 mark, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Two weeks after it struck on Oct 15, the number of fatalities has risen to 218, including 204 in Bohol, 13 in Cebu, and one in Siquijor.

Read: Bohol, Philippines Earthquake: 5.4 Aftershock Occurs, Toppled Historical Old Churches Now Just Remain Memories, Damages to Infrastructure Reach AU$18M

Although only some 18,043 families or 90,854 people continue to stay in 367 evacuation centers, the temblor which toppled old historical structures in Bohol as well as neighboring Cebu affected a total of about 671,779 families or 3,217,094 people scattered in 1,527 villages in 60 towns and six cities in six provinces across the Philippines' Visayas region.

Edgardo Chatto, Bohol Governor, said his government's initial plans was to erect temporary shelters to replace the tents currently occupied by the displaced families.

An evacuee breastfeeds her baby at a temporary shelter for earthquake victims in Loay, Bohol October 17, 2013. The Philippines started to clear roads blocked by debris on Thursday as it reckoned up the cost of this week's powerful earthquake, with the death toll rising to at least 158. Tens of thousands of residents of Bohol island, which took the brunt of Tuesday's 7.2 magnitude quake, remained living outdoors, for fear of aftershocks bringing down damaged homes. REUTERS/Erik De Castro (PHILIPPINES - Tags: DISASTER)

"We'll start with the rehabilitation of houses. We will build temporary short-term shelters to replace tents so Boholanos can get back their confidence. We also need prayers so that the aftershocks will stop," Mr Chatto was quoted by INQUIRER.net.

He also said that it will take a month to rehabilitate roads and bridges, and longer for the damaged churches which are part of Bohol's heritage.

The national government is focused to rebuild the province's damaged hospitals.

Read more:

Bohol, Cebu Earthquake: 7.4 Magnitude Quake Hit PH Provinces; Damage, Cracks to Properties Reported (PHOTOS)

7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Topples Down Historic Buildings and Churches in Philippines (PHOTOS)