DepEd declares 'wellness break' for public schools Oct. 27–30
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education has declared a four-day “wellness break” for public schools nationwide from October 27 to 30 to allow teachers and students to rest and recover from the impact of recent disasters and the rise in flu-like illnesses.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the move responds to appeals from teachers and students for a pause amid the strain of consecutive calamities and outbreaks of illness that have affected several regions.
“Many of our teachers and students come from areas hit by typhoons and earthquakes, or are dealing with flu cases. That’s why we said, let’s take a short break first,” Angara said in a statement on Wednesday, October 22. “We can work better when we’re feeling well.”
The wellness break modifies provisions under the DepEd memorandum that governs the schedule of the midyear In-Service Training (INSET) for teachers, in line with Department Order No. 12, s. 2025.
Under the adjustment, schools are advised to defer INSET activities to a later date after the break.
For divisions that already paid for training venues and meals, DepEd said the activities may be moved or repurposed.
If rescheduling is not feasible, the INSET may still proceed voluntarily, and teachers who participate will be exempt from attending similar training later in the school year.
Coordination with regional and division offices
Schools have been instructed to coordinate with their respective schools division offices and regional offices in adjusting their academic calendars. DepEd also reminded them that despite the break, professional development programs should still be completed before the end of School Year 2025–2026.
Classes are set to resume on November 3, following the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
The INSET is a regular midyear program of DepEd aimed at helping teachers upgrade their classroom skills and keep up with curriculum changes. It usually includes workshops on teaching methods and other classroom know-how.
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