At the beginning of October, we traditionally welcome teachers. We find pathetic words about mission, service, nurturing human destinies. Happiness is when a teacher can see the fruits of his labor, when real people come out of his hands, when grateful students year after year remember their teachers, find warm words of thanks and support for them. Indeed, teaching is more than a profession. However, behind the lofty mission lies the everyday reality in which teachers face the same challenges as other people. The low level of salaries forces them to look for additional sources of income, taking on several part-time jobs. Chronic fatigue, which teachers get from the constant pursuit of stability, prevents full dedication to the main job. Can a teacher impress his students with his erudition, who, instead of watching a current movie, reading a new book, or even mastering a game that is interesting for students, is looking for ways to make ends meet? Can a teacher, who checks notebooks at night at the expense of rest, teach to his full potential? Will a teacher who cannot afford a leisurely walk in the park and an exciting conversation with students, because he has to run to a second or even a third job, have spiritual contact with schoolchildren?
The question of raising the salaries of educators because of the war hangs in the air. However, even before the war, the government was in no hurry to properly evaluate the work of teachers. What does decent mean – we can see on the example of average teacher salaries in Europe.
In the summer, many teachers resigned due to lack of money. Posts were written, videos were shot, a whole flash mob was arranged: tired but happy teachers say goodbye to the profession.
Job search sites are full of vacancies for teachers. In Ukraine, there is a shortage of teachers of physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, foreign languages, and even the Ukrainian language. At the same time, graduates of pedagogical universities do not want to teach because they do not see special prospects. Young graduates of pedagogical universities often choose other professions or go to work abroad due to low salaries, lack of opportunities for professional growth and general underestimation of the work of teachers. Young people with mathematical abilities increasingly choose the IT field, it is becoming almost axiomatic. Pedagogical universities, in turn, do not count on the best school graduates, because the work of a teacher has lost its prestige among gifted youth. As a result, universities are forced to recruit applicants with rather low scores in the external examination.
The situation with the teachers who remained to work is extremely difficult. Their exhaustion is caused not only by low salaries, but also by a large volume of documentation, constant checks, as well as the realities of wartime — shelling and the need to adapt to dangerous conditions. Congested classes, additional administrative tasks, the need to conduct distance learning or quickly change the format of classes also take energy. In such conditions, teachers continue to be responsible for the future generation, but often on the verge of exhaustion, both physically and emotionally.
On the eve of September 1, 2024, on the TV channel “Social. News” a conversation took place with Deputy Chairman of the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine Serhiy Romaniuk. He emphasized that, despite the war, teachers continue their mission of raising and teaching children, giving them all their love and knowledge.
However, the pay situation is a cause for concern. According to Romanyuk, teachers do not receive ¾ of their salary, which is a shame for the government and society. The trade union appealed to the Government and the Verkhovna Rada with a demand to raise salaries and maintain payments with the prospect of their implementation after the end of the war.
According to Serhiy Babak, head of the Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, the state orders the training of 12.5 thousand teachers every year, but only 18-19% of them reach the profession.
On the opinion of Ihor Likarchuk, ex-director of the Ukrainian Center for Evaluation of the Quality of Education, the prestige of the teaching profession in Ukraine has reached a historic low. He bases this statement on his own 50 years of experience in education and research into the history of Ukrainian school management.
Likarchuk notes that this year’s admission to pedagogical universities had almost no competition, even for state places. There is a threat of non-fulfillment of the state order for the training of teachers, and those applicants who enter often have minimum passing scores. This calls into question their readiness to work in school and the quality of their future teaching activities.
The aging of the teaching staff is particularly worrying. In 2023, 41% of teachers working in grades 5-9 had more than 25 years of experience, which shows a negative trend compared to the end of the 90s, when there were about 30% of such teachers. The shortage of young professionals and the rapid increase in the number of teaching vacancies, the growth of which reached 45% in mid-2024, only increase these challenges.
The additional duties of teachers are also time-consuming and require a significant amount of time. First, it is administrative work, which involves filling out reports, documentation, preparing lesson plans, performance evaluations, and keeping electronic journals. Secondly, teachers organize extracurricular activities, such as contests, Olympiads, excursions and sports competitions, which require time to prepare and conduct. Thirdly, work with parents includes participation in parent meetings and individual consultations, which also requires additional time and preparation.
Additionally, teachers work with students outside of class, providing homework help, counseling, preparation for Olympiads and other competitions, and support for students with learning or behavioral problems. Educational work is also an important component of their activities, in particular for classroom teachers who organize educational hours, plan activities for the education of students, visit their homes and keep records of their success.
Psychological support is becoming more and more relevant, as teachers often perform the function of informal psychologists, which requires additional skills and time. Professional development is also an additional responsibility, as teachers are constantly studying, attending courses and seminars, which is often paid for from their own funds.
A teacher’s working week often stretches to 50-60 hours, although officially fixed lesson hours are only 18-25. This colossal overload leads to emotional burnout and, unfortunately, becomes one of the main reasons why teachers leave their beloved profession.
No mission can last forever when its executors are on the verge of exhaustion. In order for education in Ukraine not to lose its most valuable representatives, real changes are necessary – not only in the financial support of teachers, but also in the attitude of society towards their work. Otherwise, teachers will continue to be forced out of the profession, leaving behind empty classrooms and a generation that may be left without those who lead the way.
