The Parliament proposed a new salary calculation system for teachers to raise their pay

In Ukraine, there are plans to change the payment system for educators, focusing on a higher base salary instead of numerous allowances. A third of the appeals to the educational ombudsman are related to salaries. This was reported by Nadezhda Leshchik during an online meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on education, science, and innovation.

How they want to change the salary payment system for educators in 2026

The issue of educators' salaries remains critical, as the current payment model creates inequality. 

“We have a small base salary and a large number of allowances and bonuses,” – noted Leshchik. 

According to her, payments often depend on the decision of the management or the founder of the institution, causing allowances to be reduced or not paid at all. This causes dissatisfaction among educators, as a third of the appeals to the ombudsman are related to this issue.

The proposed reform envisions a revision of the salary structure so that the main part of income relies on the base salary rather than temporary bonuses. 

Which educators will not see a salary increase in 2026

However, the increase planned for 2026 will not apply to everyone. According to Minister of Education Oksen Lisovoy, there is a lack of funds in the state budget to meet the requirements of the “Education Law” regarding fair pay for all educators. 

In particular, employees of preschool institutions and higher educational institutions (HEIs) will remain without an increase, as their salaries are linked to the Unified Tariff Scale (ETS), where base salaries have hardly changed.

The crisis in education is exacerbated by a personnel shortage. In the private sector, demand is rising for foreign workers, who are paid up to $800, exceeding the average salaries in Ukraine. Meanwhile, educators are left with low incomes that do not cover their needs. 

Earlier, we reported that teachers earn 39% less than the average salary.