In today’s world, education should be the foundation of development, because it is not for nothing that they say, who owns information, owns the world. And it is an educated person who is able to make great changes for the benefit of society. And teachers become guides for educated people. But today the teaching profession is on the verge of oblivion. Those who were once considered spiritual mentors and sources of knowledge today have to contend not only with low wages and overwork, but also with a complete lack of public respect. Teachers who invest their heart in children become hostages of indifference and contempt. We are used to thinking that a teacher is a person who builds the future, but today’s situation indicates that in a few years there may not be those who are ready to carry out this difficult mission.
The teaching profession was once associated with wisdom, respect and stability. The teacher was an authority to whom not only students but also their parents looked up. Today, the picture has radically changed. Those who are called to educate new generations face chronic disdain for their work, which leads to the gradual decline of the entire educational system. Why has the teaching profession lost its former importance? And what does this mean for the future of society?
Why are more and more teachers leaving the profession
According to the data report “Teachers of Ukraine: personnel potential”, which was prepared by the Research Agency Fama on the order of the Public Union “Osvitoria”, as of the 2023-2024 school year, there are 392,700 teaching staff in general secondary education institutions of Ukraine:
- 27% of teachers in schools are language and literature teachers;
- 24% – teachers of junior classes;
- 13% – science teachers;
- 8% are mathematics teachers.
These data confirm the uneven distribution of teaching staff by specialization.
In addition, the number of young personnel is significantly decreasing in the profession:
- teachers under the age of 30 make up only 10% (24,000 people);
- teachers over 55 years old – 30% (68.9 thousand people).
The average age of a Ukrainian teacher is 49 years. While the number of teachers under the age of 30 has sharply decreased to 22% over the past two years.
According to the observations of the research participants, the teaching profession in Ukraine has a low prestige: in particular, 80% of the research participants are not satisfied with the extent to which society values the work of a teacher.
Among the reasons for dissatisfaction with their profession, teachers indicated the following:
- salary level – 88%;
- the amount of workload – 59%;
- bureaucracy and extraneous tasks that distract from the educational process – 53%.
According to the report, only 58% of teachers are ready to remain in the profession until 2030. It is worth noting that the greatest readiness to continue working in the field of education is shown by older teachers (71%). While teachers under the age of 25 who are ready to continue working in schools make up only 42%. There is also an interesting trend that lower grade teachers, rather than subject teachers, express a greater willingness to stay working.
According to experts’ estimates, as of 2024, the shortage of teaching staff is:
- primary education: 19,000 teachers in cities, 11,000 teachers in villages;
- natural sciences: in cities – 4.4 thousand teachers, in villages – 0.1 thousand teachers;
- mathematical sciences: in cities – 2 thousand teachers, in villages – 1.4 thousand teachers.
The lack of teachers is most felt in the front-line regions:
- Dnipropetrovsk region;
- Kharkiv Region;
- Zaporizhzhia region;
- Odesa region;
- Mykolayiv region
Experts paint a not very optimistic picture – by 2030, the Ukrainian education system may lack 366,000 teachers.
One of the most painful problems is the financing of the educational sphere. Teachers’ salaries often do not match the level of responsibility they carry. Today, teachers are forced to work multiple jobs to provide themselves and their families with a decent standard of living. This not only drives away talented people from the profession, but also reduces the motivation of those already working in the system. As a result, the educational process suffers, because teachers, exhausted and disappointed, cannot fully realize their potential.
It is also particularly painful to recognize the fact that the teaching profession has lost its prestige in society. Many believe that teaching is a “simple” job that anyone can do. This opinion gives rise to contempt and underestimation of the role of the teacher in the student’s life. Teachers do not find understanding on the part of the majority of parents, who for some reason forget that it is their children first of all, but are guided by their opinion.here we gave it to the school, let them teach“. And it even comes to the point that neither the briefcase is put together for the child, nor is it checked whether the child has sat down to do homework. After all, knowledge will not jump to your head by itself. And even a professor will not help someone who is not systematic and responsible in his studies. And the child will not come to this on his own. Parents often do not support teachers, protecting their children from any criticism from their side, which further undermines the authority of teachers. As a result, teachers become hostages of a system that does not protect their rights or value their contribution to society.
And the educational bureaucracy has become a real trap for teachers. Huge volumes of paper work, reports, plans and inspections take away time that could be devoted to creative and quality work with children. The teacher is no longer a mentor and teacher – he turns into an administrator who must satisfy the endless demands of the system. This reduces the quality of education and creates burnout among teachers who no longer see the meaning in their work.
Continuous professional development is an important component of any profession, especially in conditions where the world and technology are changing rapidly. However, teachers often do not have the opportunity for full-fledged professional development, because it requires time and funding. Learning new methods, adapting to modern conditions requires investments that the educational system is not ready to make. This leads to the fact that teachers work according to old schemes, not keeping up with modern requirements, which only deepens the crisis of education. And constant visits to pedagogical courses are reduced to the usual boring lectures, which are repeated year after year and end with a standard test, which does not give an opportunity to really check the level of knowledge and skill of the teacher, but only adds more stress to the lives of teachers, who are already bogged down with problems.
In conditions of low salaries, lack of prestige and constant stress, the teaching profession becomes less attractive for young people. Students do not see opportunities for development, stability or respect in her. It is worth noting that the popularity of the teaching profession has long since lost its position. This year, the average competitive score of those who entered the budget for the specialty “Secondary Education” is about 140 points. It is obvious that applications for admission were submitted not by those applicants who followed their vocation, but by those who were looking for an easier way to enter the budget.
As a result, in the coming decades we may face a catastrophic shortage of professional teachers, which will lead to a decrease in the quality of education and further degradation of the system. Who will teach our children in the future if the teaching profession has nothing but moral exhaustion and despair?
How the prestige of a teacher changed at different times
The prestige of the teaching profession was formed over the years. In ancient societies such as Ancient Greece and Rome, teachers, who were then represented by philosophers and rhetoricians, were highly respected. In Greece, teachers, especially philosophers, were considered an elite group that influenced the formation of state ideals. In Rome, teachers of rhetoric prepared young people for a political career, so they also had a high social status.
In medieval Europe, teachers were often clerics or monks, and their role was to impart religious knowledge. The church controlled education, so the teacher’s prestige was closely related to his religious position. However, secular education also began to develop, particularly in universities, where professors already had a high status.
During the Renaissance, the prestige of teachers rose again thanks to humanistic ideas. Universities and schools appeared that disseminated knowledge from various fields of science and art. Teachers of science, literature and art were highly respected, as knowledge became an important value of society. In the 18th century, with the advent of the Age of Enlightenment, the prestige of teachers increased significantly due to new ideas about the role of education in the development of the individual and society. Enlightenment thinkers emphasized the importance of education, which had the effect of increasing respect for teachers.
During the 19th century, in connection with the industrialization and development of national states, the system of public education began to form. Teachers began to be seen as public servants, and their status greatly increased as education became available to the general population.
In the 20th century, the prestige of teachers fluctuated in different countries depending on political regimes. In the Soviet education system, teachers had a high status and considerable respect in society, as they were responsible for the ideological education of the youth. At the same time, in capitalist countries, teachers often did not receive high salaries, which affected the prestige of the profession.
In today’s world, the prestige of a teacher varies depending on the country. In some countries, teachers continue to be highly respected, as education is one of the priorities of state policy. And in some countries, on the contrary, the teaching profession can be perceived as less prestigious due to low salaries and work overload.
Attitudes towards the teaching profession in foreign countries
Abroad, the attitude towards the teaching profession is significantly different from Ukrainian realities, although there are also challenges there. In many countries, the teaching profession remains prestigious and respected, in particular due to better working conditions, social guarantees and state support.
In Finland, the teaching profession is one of the most prestigious, which is largely due to their education system, which is one of the best in the world. The teachers here are real professionals who are chosen from the best students. Only about 10% of applicants get into teaching programs at universities. Teachers’ salaries are high, and their work is perceived as extremely important for the development of society.
In Japan, teachers are called “sensei” – this is not just a profession, but an honorary title. The teacher has undeniable authority among students and parents. Working at a school is extremely responsible, but also well-paid. Teachers are held in high esteem as they play a key role in raising disciplined, educated citizens in accordance with Japanese cultural values.
In Germany, teachers have a high social status, as well as one of the highest salaries among teachers in Europe. The state supports the continuous professional development of teachers, providing them with access to new methods and technologies. The job of a teacher is prestigious and many young people apply for it, because this profession provides stability and social guarantees.
In the USA, the situation is ambiguous. On the one hand, teachers have good salaries and benefits, especially in well-funded schools. However, in many parts of the country, especially in poorer areas, teachers face heavy workloads, insufficient funding and discipline problems. At the same time, there is a clear understanding in society that teaching is an important and responsible profession, although the prestige may vary depending on the state.
In South Korea, education is one of the top priorities, and teachers are national heroes. Teachers are revered for their contribution to building a successful nation. They have high salaries and support from the state, because the Korean education system is aimed at preparing children for tough competition in the future. Teachers here are not just teachers, but mentors who shape future leaders
Foreign experience shows that respect for teachers and proper working conditions are not a luxury, but a necessity for the development of a successful society. In countries where teachers are supported, their status and prestige are high, education flourishes. Ukraine should pay attention to this experience in order to restore respect for teachers and improve their working conditions.
Changes in the educational system must begin with a deep awareness of the problems and their immediate solution. First of all, it is necessary to ensure decent wages and working conditions for teachers. Increasing the social prestige of the profession should be a national priority, because without teachers there will be no future.
Educational reforms should take into account the need to reduce the bureaucratic burden on teachers, create opportunities for professional development and provide them with the necessary resources for quality work. Only then will teachers be able to fulfill their main mission — to raise an educated, conscious and responsible generation.
The devaluation of education is not only a problem for teachers. This is a threat to the entire society, which risks being left without knowledge and without a future. If there is no change, our children will grow up in a world where teachers will be replaced by machines and school will become a mere formality.
The loss of the prestige of the teaching profession is not just a wake-up call, but a catastrophic sign that the state has neglected those who create our future. Disdain for teachers, low salaries and social insecurity are causing talented people to leave the profession, leaving the education system without a solid foundation. The authorities must realize that if the decline of the education sector continues, not only the school, but also the whole society will feel the consequences. She should not forget the wise words of the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck: “Who saves on schools, will spend on prisons.”
