Critical Situation with Teachers' Salaries in Ukraine
The State Statistics Service reported that Ukrainian educators have very low salaries: the average salary of a teacher is only 14,307 hryvnias per month, while in other sectors it is 23,460 hryvnias, or 39% more. Such a low salary level casts doubt on the prestige of the teaching profession.
The government will try to address this issue through additional payments. Currently, the surcharge for working in unsuitable conditions is 1,300 hryvnias, but it is planned to increase this amount to 2,600 hryvnias. Compensation will depend on the teaching workload and will cover all educators working in several institutions.
A public petition by Nadia KotoK demands to raise the income of Ukrainian teachers to a level of 1,000-1,500 dollars per month.
Former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that all funds are directed to the needs of the Security and Defense Forces, which hinders salary increases for teachers.
Long-Term Plans and Prospects
According to the budget declaration for 2026-2028, it is expected that teachers' salaries will increase from 17,000 hryvnias in 2026 to 19,600 hryvnias in 2028. The salary will include various bonuses for work experience, job prestige, and other additional rewards.
This situation presents broader problems for the Ukrainian economy during the war, where social needs compete with military expenditures for limited budget resources.
Educators in Ukraine face low salaries, but the government plans to increase their pay in the coming years to rectify the situation. However, the problem remains relevant as limited budget resources place the teaching profession in a difficult position compared to other sectors.