No Classes for a Week! DepEd Announces Wellness Break This October

The Department of Education (DepEd) has declared a four-day wellness break for public schools nationwide from October 27 to 30, 2025, allowing teachers and students to rest and recover from recent disasters and a rise in flu-like illnesses affecting several regions. With October 31 being a special holiday, this break effectively extends the pause to a full week.

Classes are set to resume on November 3, following the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

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Education Secretary Sonny Angara explained the reasoning behind the break: “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. We can work better when we’re feeling well.”

The break also comes with adjustments to DepEd’s midyear In-Service Training (INSET) schedule for teachers, in line with Department Order No. 12, s. 2025. 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. Schools are advised to defer INSET activities to a later date.

Divisions that have already paid for training venues and meals can repurpose or reschedule them. Teachers who choose to attend voluntary INSET during the break will be exempt from attending similar training later in the school year.

Schools have been instructed to coordinate with their respective school division and regional offices to adjust 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.

Private schools, on the other hand, have discretion over whether to observe the wellness break. While some may align their schedules with public schools, others may continue classes as usual, depending on their own academic calendar and policies. Parents of students in private institutions are advised to check with their school for any announcements regarding breaks or adjustments.

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