A teachers’ group on Tuesday, October 21, reiterated its call for the Department of Education (DepEd) to allow teachers to fully observe the scheduled Health and Wellness Break next week instead of holding the In-Service Training (INSET) during this period.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), in a statement, appealed to DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara to reconsider the decision, emphasizing that the break is essential for teachers’ rest, recovery, and mental well-being—especially after recent natural and man-made disasters.

This year’s INSET is scheduled from October 27 to 30.

TDC Chairperson Benjo Basas said the recent typhoons, floods, fires, and earthquakes have taken a toll on teachers and learners.

“We wish to emphasize that the recent natural and man-made calamities—including typhoons, flooding, fires, and earthquakes—have greatly affected the overall health, well-being, and emotional state of both learners and teachers,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said.

Basas noted that these circumstances—on top of the already demanding workload from various administrative and teaching responsibilities, such as fulfilling requirements and preparing documentation for those who pursued the ECP system, as well as for teachers engaged in the ARAL Program—have placed additional strain on the psycho-emotional well-being of educators.

“In this context, the Health and Wellness Break is not only timely but also essential, as it allows teachers the opportunity for much-needed rest, recovery, and the completion of necessary academic and assessment-related tasks,” Basas said in a letter to Angara.

He explained that the Health and Wellness Break was designed to help teachers and learners recover from the physical, mental, and emotional strain of the ongoing school year. Conducting INSET during this time, he added, contradicts the very purpose of the wellness break.

“Instead of serving its purpose as a period of respite, it would only add to the burden of teachers who are already exhausted and overwhelmed by multiple work expectations,” Basas said.

The TDC called for an urgent dialogue with DepEd to review and possibly postpone the INSET implementation, saying that respecting the wellness break would acknowledge the vital role of teacher well-being in sustaining the quality of education.

The group underscored that allowing teachers a genuine break could lead to better classroom performance and improved learning outcomes once classes resume.