Ministry of Finance on Increasing Teacher Salaries: Reform is 'Unbearable' for the Budget

Concerns of the Ministry of Finance Regarding Salary Increases for Teachers

The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine has expressed concerns about increasing salaries for teachers, stating that the implementation of this reform is 'unbearable' for the state budget. Deputy Minister of Finance Roman Yermolchev made this statement at a meeting of the educational committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, emphasizing that proposals to increase teachers' salaries may require significant additional expenditures in 2027.

The head of the educational committee, Serhiy Babak, suggested raising teacher salaries to the level of three minimum wages starting from September 2026. For 2026, the government has already allocated UAH 48 billion in additional funds for education, of which:

• UAH 41 billion is allocated for secondary education,
• UAH 7 billion for higher education.

However, according to the proposals of the relevant committee, an additional UAH 17.7 billion will be needed to implement these initiatives from September to December 2026.

Additionally, to maintain salary levels in the healthcare, social protection, and cultural sectors, about UAH 100 billion is required. The additional funding need for 2027 is estimated at UAH 92.6 billion. Roman Yermolchev noted:

'I am talking about the risks of 2027: we cannot afford to increase expenditures by UAH 200 billion.' - Roman Yermolchev

Discussion on Increasing Teacher Salaries

Discussions on the possibility of raising teacher salaries will continue on Tuesday, November 25. This topic remains relevant as it requires a detailed analysis of the state's financial capabilities and priorities in budget financing.

The situation with increasing teacher salaries indicates a complex balance between the necessity to improve teachers' working conditions and the limited financial resources of the state. Discussing these issues at the parliamentary and governmental levels is an important step in determining priorities in budget policy, which will affect education, healthcare, and social protection. Resolving this issue will require not only financial resources but also strategic planning to ensure budget stability in the future.