According to the results research, conducted by the Public Union “Osvitoria” together with the research agency FAMA, by 2030 Ukraine may have a shortage of 108,000 teachers. This study, which lasted more than a year, was presented on November 13, 2024.
The main goal of the study was to analyze the current state of education through the prism of the teaching profession and to model the key needs of the field by 2030. More than 10,000 educators were involved in the study, which made it possible to systematically analyze all links of the educational system.
According to the received data, from 2018 to 2023, the number of teachers in cities decreased by 10.9%, while in villages this indicator is more than twice as high – 22.8%. The average age of a Ukrainian teacher is currently 49 years old, which indicates the aging of the teaching staff. In addition, the share of young teachers (under 30) decreased from 14% in 2018 to 10% in 2023.
The study also revealed that 27% of the teaching staff in schools are language and literature teachers, 24% are junior school teachers, 13% are science teachers, and 8% are mathematics teachers. These data indicate an uneven distribution of teaching staff by specialization.
During the presentation of the research results, the possible scenarios of forecasting the number of teachers according to the new methodology, the comparison of the Ukrainian teacher’s workload in the international context and the dynamics among the student body were discussed. In particular, the question of how many teachers are needed to ensure a high-quality educational process, the gap between teachers of technical and humanitarian specialties, as well as the situation with replenishing the ranks of teachers in the conditions of a reduction in the teaching staff, was considered.
The results of the study emphasize the need to implement systemic changes in the field of education, aimed at attracting young professionals to teaching activities, increasing the prestige of the teaching profession, and ensuring an even distribution of teaching staff by specialization.
