All public and private school classes across Negros Oriental are suspended on Monday, October 5, 2026, in observance of National Teachers’ Day and World Teachers’ Day, the provincial government announced on Sunday, October 4.
The suspension was declared through Executive Order No. 61, Series of 2026, issued by the Office of the Provincial Governor. The order takes effect immediately upon issuance and covers all grade levels in both public and private schools throughout the province.
Coverage and Scope of the Order
The executive order applies to all levels — from kindergarten through senior high school and beyond — in every public and private school within Negros Oriental. The suspension covers classes only and does not address whether work in government offices or private business establishments is affected, according to the order.
Classes are expected to resume on Tuesday, October 6, unless school authorities issue a separate announcement extending the suspension.
Legal Basis Cited in Executive Order
The provincial government cited two legal instruments as the basis for the class suspension. The first is Republic Act No. 10743, which designates October 5 of every year as National Teachers’ Day in recognition of the role of teachers in national development.
The second is Presidential Proclamation No. 242, Series of 2011, which sets September 5 to October 5 of every year as National Teachers’ Month. Together, the two issuances form the national legal framework for honoring the teaching profession each year.
October 5 is also observed globally as World Teachers’ Day, a designation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which recognizes the contributions of teachers and education personnel to societies worldwide.
DepEd’s Role in Mobilizing Schools
According to the executive order, the Department of Education (DepEd) has consistently called on public and private schools to participate in Teachers’ Month and Teachers’ Day activities that recognize the contributions of teachers to education and nation-building.
The provincial government said the suspension is intended to give learners, teachers, school heads, and teaching and non-teaching personnel sufficient time and opportunity to meaningfully observe both occasions.
By the Numbers
- October 5, 2026 — Date of class suspension across Negros Oriental
- Executive Order No. 61, Series of 2026 — Provincial issuance declaring the suspension
- Republic Act No. 10743 — Law declaring October 5 as National Teachers’ Day
- Presidential Proclamation No. 242, Series of 2011 — Sets September 5 to October 5 as National Teachers’ Month
- October 6, 2026 — Expected resumption of classes
Why This Matters
The suspension affects all learners, teachers, and school personnel across every public and private school in Negros Oriental, making it one of the broadest single-day class cancellations tied to a professional observance in the province. The order reinforces the legal mandates of Republic Act No. 10743 and Presidential Proclamation No. 242, aligning the province with both national and international recognition of the teaching profession. Parents and guardians with children enrolled in any school in Negros Oriental should take note that classes will not be held on Monday, October 5, and are expected to resume Tuesday, October 6.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the Office of the Negros Oriental Provincial Governor
