There is a shortage of teachers in Ukraine, especially in primary education and natural sciences
Education is the foundation of society’s development, a tool that shapes the future of the state through the training of the younger generation. However, in the conditions of war, this process faces serious difficulties. The armed conflict in Ukraine significantly affected the education system, revealing a number of problems, among which the shortage of teachers deserves special attention. The war displaced millions of people, destroyed infrastructure and created new challenges for schools. Children studying in war-torn or internally displaced situations face limited access to quality education. At the same time, educators found themselves in a situation where they have to work in conditions of chronic lack of resources and uncertainty.
One of the most acute problems was the lack of qualified teachers. This issue concerns both urban and rural schools, especially in the frontline areas.
Personnel shortage in the field of education: research results
According to the results research “Teachers of Ukraine: personnel potential”, conducted by the public union “Osvitoria” and the research agency Fama, Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of teachers. Over the past two years, the number of teachers in Ukraine has decreased by 40,000, while primary education teachers and specialists in natural and mathematical disciplines are lacking the most. This shortage occurs in both urban and rural areas, with the extent of the problem varying by region.
According to the data, there is a shortage of about 19,000 primary education teachers in urban schools, and 11,000 in rural schools. A particularly acute shortage is observed in such regions as Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa. These regions are in close proximity to the war zone, which makes it much more difficult to attract new teachers.
Shortage of specialists in natural and mathematical sciences
The situation with teachers of natural sciences and mathematics is also a cause for concern. Cities lack about 4,400 natural science teachers and 2,000 math specialists. In villages, these figures are 0.1 and 1.4 thousand, respectively. In general, in cities, the vacancy rate for teachers of junior grades is only 69%, in villages – 75%. In the field of natural sciences, the situation is even worse: understaffing is 25% in cities, 1% in villages.
The reasons for this deficit are both objective and subjective in nature. On the one hand, the war caused the migration of specialists to safer regions or abroad. On the other hand, the teaching profession in Ukraine has been undervalued for a long time, which resulted in low wages, lack of social guarantees and insufficient motivation for young specialists to choose this profession.
Imbalance in the specializations of teachers
The study also points to a significant imbalance in the number of teachers in different disciplines. The largest number of humanities teachers in Ukraine, in particular language and literature – 27% of the total number. On the other hand, the share of mathematics teachers is almost three times smaller — 8%, and natural sciences — 13%. This indicates the need to review the priorities in the training of teaching staff.
The impact of the shortage of teachers on the quality of education
The lack of teachers negatively affects the educational process. Students are forced to study in overcrowded classrooms or are left without access to certain subjects. This is especially acutely felt in villages, where the number of teachers per capita is much smaller. The shortage of personnel also limits opportunities for the implementation of modern teaching methods and the development of STEM education, which is critically important for preparing for the challenges of the 21st century.
Ways to solve the problem
To overcome the shortage of teachers, a comprehensive approach is needed, which should include:
- Raising teachers’ salaries. Creating competitive pay conditions will help attract new specialists and return those who have left the profession.
- Retraining programs. The introduction of advanced training courses for those who wish to change professions can be an important step in filling the staffing gaps.
- Social support of teachers. Provision of housing, social guarantees and psychological support especially for teachers working in frontline areas.
- Popularization of the teaching profession. Information campaigns aimed at increasing the prestige of this profession can attract young people to pedagogical universities.
- Investments in education. State support and international grants should be directed to the development of schools, especially in war-affected regions.
The problems of education in the conditions of war are a real challenge, but at the same time an opportunity for reforming the system. Providing quality education, even in the most difficult conditions, is not only an issue of the present, but also an investment in the future of the country. After all, it is the educated, motivated young generation that is able to restore Ukraine after the war, laying the foundations for sustainable development and prosperity.
