DepEd orders 2-day wellness break for public school teachers

The Department of Education is implementing a wellness break for all public school teachers from Sept. 14–15. 

In a memorandum addressed to public school officials on Sept. 8, Education Secretary Sonny Angara explained that the break "is provided for teachers after each term to allow them time to rest, recuperate, and attend to their personal well-being before the start of the succeeding term."

This wellness break follows the end of this schoolyear's first term, which started on June 8. 

Angara urged regional offices, schools division offices, and other school officials to "respect and protect these two days as a genuine break for teachers."

During the break, DepEd is disallowing "meetings, trainings, Learning Action Cell sessions, school activities, reporting, submissions, asynchronous deliverables, [and] other work."

"School heads and field officials are encouraged to exercise care in scheduling activities immediately before and after the break so that its intended purpose is preserved," Angara added. 

In a press release issued Dec. 3, 2025, DepEd announced the Marcos administration approved a budget to hire over 30,000 new classroom teachers. 

During the House Committee on Appropriations' discussions on the 2027 DepEd budget, Angara shared that the department hired 32,000 teachers this year. 

However, in the P973.40 billion budget earmarked for DepEd in 2027, there was zero funding allocated for teacher recruitment. 

Angara added that part of the department's "wish list" is an additional P49.16 billion for its "personal improvement" program, with P4.29 billion allotted for the hiring of 14,274 teachers.