A teachers’ group on Wednesday, October 15, called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to suspend the upcoming In-Service Training (INSET) scheduled during the October wellness break to allow educators to fully rest and recover. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), in a statement, said DepEd should suspend the conduct of INSET scheduled from October 27 to 31 to enable teachers to “fully enjoy” their Mid-School Year Health and Wellness Break as mandated by DepEd Order No. 12, s. 2025. According to TDC, the order designates the last week of October as a wellness break for both teachers and learners. However, it also encourages schools to hold INSET activities during the same period—placing school heads and division offices in a dilemma. As a result, many schools still plan to push through with mandatory INSET sessions, effectively depriving teachers of their much-needed rest. “Teachers, just like their students, deserve this break,” said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas. “After months of continuous work—from lesson preparation and actual classroom teaching to paperwork and assessments—our teachers need time to rest and recharge,” he added. Teachers say break is ‘not a real break’ The group stressed that while INSET aims to strengthen teachers’ professional competencies, it should not come at the cost of their health and well-being. According to Basas, many teachers end up spending the supposed break finalizing learners’ performance outputs, grades, and other administrative tasks—leaving them without a “real” wellness break. “We urge DepEd to review how INSET is being implemented in schools,” Basas said. “This program is funded by public money, and it must truly serve its purpose of developing teachers—not adding to their fatigue,” he added. Call for genuine wellness and balanced policies The TDC acknowledged that INSETs can be valuable when focused on teachers’ welfare and when faculty organizations are empowered to take part in planning and discussions. However, the group emphasized that wellness breaks should prioritize rest, not additional workload. TDC reiterated its call for DepEd to apply wellness policies equitably to both learners and teachers, ensuring genuine care and balance in the school calendar. The group stressed that teachers’ wellness is essential to effective teaching and learning—because when teachers are healthy and well-rested, their students benefit too.