The number of teachers in Ukraine has sharply increased: a paradox of educational reform

The number of teachers has increased against the backdrop of population decline in Ukraine.Against the catastrophic decline in birth rates and the reduction in the number of students in Ukraine, the number of teachers per 100,000 population has increased by 25% since 2013.As reported by 'Hvylya', economist Oleg Ustenko pointed out this paradox of the Ukrainian educational system in an interview with Yuriy Romanenko.

In his opinion, the state continues to live in an old paradigm and sponsor the Soviet model, which creates a serious burden on the budget.

Ustenko noted that in 2023, there were 910 teachers per 100,000 population.

'910 teachers! And do you know how many there were in thirteen, in 2013? We had about 724 teachers per 100,000 population in 2013,' the economist noted.

He added that in 1991 this figure was even lower – 560 teachers per 100,000 people.The appropriateness of spending on the training of pedagogical staff.Thus, from 2013 to 2023, despite the war and demographic crisis, the number of teachers per 100,000 population has increased by almost 25%.

'We are now at war, we have fewer young people, lower birth rates, the number of teachers is increasing, and at such a pace,' Ustenko emphasized.

The economist also raises the question of the appropriateness of spending budgetary funds on training new pedagogical staff at a time when the country is in dire need of medical professionals and rehabilitation specialists for veterans. According to him, significant budgetary funds are spent on training 94,000 future teachers, while only 10,000 places have been allocated for medical professionals and rehabilitation specialists.Romanenko, in turn, noted that the increase in the number of teachers per capita is an indirect indicator of the actual decrease in the population of Ukraine.

'Because the higher the growth of the number of teachers per capita, the less the population itself, as teachers remain and the population has either died or left, and that's why such an unprecedented growth occurs,' he said.

Ustenko emphasized that this situation requires immediate and pragmatic solutions from the authorities, based on current realities rather than outdated models.Ukraine is facing a complex situation where the increase in the number of teachers raises questions about the efficiency of education spending, considering other important sectors such as healthcare. It is necessary to find a balance in spending on the training of pedagogical staff, taking into account the needs of society as a whole.