THE Department of Education (DepEd) has declared a “wellness break” for all public schools from October 27 to 30, providing students and teachers with a much-needed respite following recent calamities and the spread of flu-like illnesses across the country. Education Secretary Sonny Angara made the announcement on Wednesday, citing the need for a pause to recover from the strain of these events.
“Many of our teachers and students come from areas affected by the typhoon and earthquake, or are dealing with cases of the flu,” Angara stated. “That’s why, as we said, let’s take a short break first. We can work better when we’re also feeling well.”
In light of the “wellness break,” DepEd has also rescheduled the midyear In-Service Training (INSET) originally planned for the same dates. Schools and divisions that have already made payments for INSET venues and meals have the option to move the activity to a later date or utilize the arrangements for alternative purposes.
DepEd clarified that if rescheduling is not feasible, the activities may proceed on a voluntary basis, and teachers who participate will be exempt from similar training sessions later in the school year. Individual schools, in coordination with their respective division and regional offices, will determine the new INSET schedules, ensuring that professional development programs are still conducted within the remaining days of School Year 2025-2026. Classes are set to resume on November 3, 2025, following the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holidays.
