Increase in Education Spending: Trade Union Proposals Partially Taken into Account

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the draft State Budget for 2026. The security and defense sector remains the state's top priority for the coming year. At the same time, the document provides for a significant increase in funding for the education sector.

The Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine has consistently advocated for the need to increase state spending on education: it initiated and held round tables and meetings with representatives of relevant ministries to discuss issues of increasing teachers' salaries, sent relevant appeals to ministries and MPs, sent its proposals to the budget, and union members actively supported a petition to increase salaries, which collected 25,000 signatures in just four days. 

These solutions are the result of the collaborative efforts of the educational community and an example of how solidarity and perseverance can bring concrete results for the sector.

Thus, education spending in the state budget for 2026 will amount to 265.4 billion UAH (5.5 billion EUR) (In 2025, 4 billion EUR was allocated to finance the education sector), and the funds will be allocated to: 

• a 50% increase in salaries for teaching staff;
• providing free school meals;
• increasing the size of scholarships for students;
• equipping shelters in educational institutions;
• purchasing school buses.

Taking into account the proposals of the educational community in the draft budget is an important step towards ensuring decent working conditions for teachers and the sustainable development of the education system, even in wartime.

International Department