The Milestone 10th Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2026
In 2026, the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine celebrated its 10th anniversary, organized by the public association OsVitoria with support from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. English teacher Svitlana Merkulova from Irpin earned the top honor and a prize of 1 million hryvnias. The award ceremony took place just before World Teachers' Day, carrying the powerful theme #TeachersMatter. Merkulova has mentored numerous top scorers and regional Olympiad winners, underscoring the vital role educators play in today’s world.
Honoring Excellence Across Multiple Categories
Besides the grand prize, several other educators were recognized in distinct categories:
- Vira Berezhok, a preschool teacher at Kindergarten No. 21 in Vinnytsia, won the "Early Childhood Education" category and received 500,000 hryvnias from UNICEF. The award was presented by Minister of Education Andriy Butenko and UNICEF Ukraine’s Acting Head Shamiza Abdulla.
- Oleksandr Chuchaiev, a history teacher from Kirovohrad region, was honored with the special "Teacher-Defender" award and 500,000 hryvnias. He serves as a company commander in the drone aviation unit "Ghost" of the 41st Separate Mechanized Brigade in the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
- David Kuzmych, a technology and IT teacher from Boryslav, Lviv region, was named the "People’s Choice" winner and awarded an educational trip sponsored by Kyivstar.
- Yulia Zubareva from Zaporizhzhia took home the "Mathematics Teacher" award along with 500,000 hryvnias from SoftServe. Her prize was presented by SoftServe co-founder Taras Kytsmey.
- Olena Trubchanina from Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, received the "Chemistry Teacher" award, earning 500,000 hryvnias from Biopharma.
Tetyana Hlebova of Mariupol was honored with three special distinctions: "Choice of the Heart," "Teacher of Integrity," and "Inclusivity." Serhiy Bychenko, a financial literacy and technology teacher from Kharkiv, received the "Financial Education Teacher" award along with an educational trip courtesy of the Kredobank Foundation. Additionally, the Talents for Ukraine special awards from the KSE Foundation were granted to Yulia Zubareva, Daniil Doroshenko, and Roman Chernov, each receiving $5,000 to support their professional growth.
Over the decade since its inception, the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine has collected nearly 30,000 applications, nominations, and stories. In the milestone year of 2026 alone, organizers received 1,169 applications and 1,723 nominations. The selection process was independently audited by PwC Ukraine to ensure transparency and fairness. Key partners and supporters include the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Diia.Education, UNICEF, EUACI, SoftServe, Biopharma, Kredobank Foundation, KSE Foundation, Talents for Ukraine, Uklon, Educational Initiatives Foundation, and EdPro. The main media partner was 1+1 Media, with extensive media coverage provided by Kyivstar TV, Suspilne, Ukrainska Pravda, Hromadske, among others.
Svitlana Merkulova shared her thoughts: "Being a teacher today means more than just delivering quality lessons. It’s about being the light amid darkness, the reliable adult who helps a child find solid ground and regain confidence. Standing here, I want to emphasize that this Prize belongs to all Ukrainian teachers — those who enter classrooms every day, teach online, or work in shelters during air raid alarms and shelling."
The Global Teacher Prize Ukraine has become a landmark event in the country’s educational landscape, not only celebrating outstanding educators but also highlighting their critical contributions to youth development during challenging times. By elevating the teaching profession, the award helps raise public awareness of educational issues and enhances the prestige of teachers — a mission that is especially urgent given Ukraine’s current challenges.
In addition to recognizing exceptional educators, Ukraine continues to foster youth engagement through initiatives like the recent essay competition. This nationwide contest invites teenagers to express their visions for future leadership, emphasizing the importance of student voices in shaping society. For more details on this inspiring opportunity, visit the nationwide essay contest.