Boldyreva Hanna Volodymyrivna gives a lesson to teachers during training on school safety and psychosocial support for students in Balta, Odesa Region, Ukraine. September 2024.
The event “Strengthening the Resilience of the Education System in Ukraine” took place in Kyiv and was organized by UNESCO with the support of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
The central highlight of the event was the presentation of the new study, “Developing the new Ukrainian teacher,” which addresses the challenges of the teaching profession, teacher training, and professional development.
The study, initiated by UNESCO at the request of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, revealed many systemic challenges in teacher education and school staffing.
Key findings include:
- 22% of teachers in Ukraine work without having been awarded the ‘teacher’ qualification upon completion of their education
- 51% of school principals consider the lack of pedagogical training to be a risk for poor job performance
- the average salary of teachers is more than 30% lower than the national average
- 73% of educators identified low salaries as the main reason for disillusionment with the profession
- 54% of surveyed teachers generally have a positive attitude toward the implementation of the New Ukrainian School reform
- despite existing challenges, nearly 69% of teachers remain satisfied with their career choice
- 25% of teachers reported that they additionally work as private tutors
The study comprehensively analyzes the teacher professional pathway: from career choice and pre-service education to career development, certification, and work in schools. A particular focus of the study is the professional development of school principals and strengthening educational leadership.
During the event, the results of the program “Strengthening Resilience of the Education System in Ukraine for Emergency Response and Recovery,” implemented from 2022 to 2025, were also presented. The initiative covered four areas:
- provision of digital devices to educational institutions
- psychosocial support and the promotion of safe education environments
- teachers’ professional development
- development of e-governance in education
The organizers emphasized that the study findings and program outcomes will serve as a foundation for further decisions on reforming teacher education and strengthening the human capital of Ukrainian schools.
The project “Strengthening Resilience of the Education System in Ukraine for Emergency Response and Recovery” is being implemented by UNESCO with financial support from GPE.
Boldyreva Hanna Volodymyrivna gives a lesson to teachers during training on school safety and psychosocial support for students in Balta, Odesa Region, Ukraine. September 2024.