Teachers begin month-long summer break on April 1 — DepEd
Angara urges rest as School Year 2025–2026 ends
Published Mar 31, 2026 09:16 pm
Filipino teachers begin their month-long summer break on April 1, 2026, following the official closing of School Year 2025–2026, as the Department of Education (DepEd) highlights efforts to improve teacher welfare and education quality nationwide. (DepEd / MB Visual Content Group)
Teachers across public schools nationwide will officially begin their month-long summer break on April 1, as the Department of Education (DepEd) formally closed School Year (SY) 2025–2026 on Tuesday, March 31, with a strong message of gratitude and support for Filipino educators.
In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara encouraged teachers to take time to rest and recover after months of academic work, classroom instruction, and end-of-school-year responsibilities.
“Sa ating minamahal na mga guro sa bawat sulok ng bansa, nais ko kayong batiin at pasalamatan para sa inyong tiyaga, malasakit, at tahimik na kabayanihan sa loob ng ating mga silid-aralan (To our beloved teachers in every corner of the country, I would like to greet and thank you for your perseverance, compassion, and quiet heroism inside our classrooms),” Angara said.
Teachers at the core of education reform
As the academic year formally ends, DepEd emphasized that teachers remain at the center of efforts to improve education quality and expand inclusive learning opportunities nationwide.
Angara highlighted that consultations and school visits conducted in recent months enabled the agency to hear teachers’ concerns directly.
These engagements have led to key policy adjustments, including updates to classroom observation systems, improvements in overtime and overload compensation, and measures to reduce administrative workload.
“Sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., malinaw ang ating pangako na patuloy na pagbubutihin ang kalagayan ng ating mga guro at itataas ang antas ng suporta sa inyo (Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., our commitment is clear—to continuously improve the welfare of our teachers and raise the level of support for you),” Angara said.
Expanded benefits and career growth for teachers
DepEd said it is also rolling out concrete initiatives aimed at improving educators’ working conditions and career prospects.
These include distributing laptops and upgraded learning resources, implementing the Expanded Career Progression System, and a target to promote up to 100,000 teachers and school heads before year-end.
“Titiyakin natin na ang mga gurong humuhubog sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa ay nabibigyan din ng pagkakataong umunlad at magkaroon ng mas magandang buhay (We will ensure that the teachers who shape the future of our nation are also given the opportunity to grow and live better lives),” Angara emphasized.
Promotion of over 900 school leaders
In a separate statement issued on March 30, DepEd announced that it has secured approval from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to reclassify 914 pending applications for School Principal positions, marking a major step toward addressing the nationwide shortage of school heads.
DepEd highlights its strengthened collaboration with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) following the approval of 914 School Principal position reclassifications—marking a key step in addressing the nationwide principal shortage and advancing the “one school, one principal” policy. (DepEd photo)
The move is expected to strengthen instructional leadership across public schools and accelerate the promotion of qualified educators into leadership roles, DepEd said.
DepEd explained that the approved reclassification covers pending applications from Head Teachers, Assistant School Principals, and Teachers-in-Charge (TICs), many of whom have long been performing administrative and leadership duties without corresponding compensation.
This development, DepEd added, directly supports the directive of President Marcos to prioritize teacher welfare and professional growth, particularly through the implementation of the “one school, one principal” (1:1) policy.
Angara emphasized that the milestone reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the education workforce.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to uplifting the welfare and professional development of our teachers and school leaders,” Angara said. “This approval brings us closer to our vision of ensuring every school is led by strong instructional leadership that supports quality education for all learners,” he added.
A time to rest and recharge
With the school year concluded, DepEd reiterated its message: teachers deserve time to rest.
As teachers step into their month-long break, Angara urged them to prioritize their well-being in preparation for the next academic cycle.
“The future of Philippine education is being shaped every day in your classrooms,” he said. “This administration will continue working so that every Filipino teacher can teach with dignity, support, and hope. Together, we will move our schools—and our nation—forward,” Angara added.