“When the government promises to add UAH 1300 to a teacher, I want to tell them to give it to others,” says the director of Kyiv Lyceum #109
6 October 2025 07:15
EXCLUSIVE
In Ukraine, educators are paid meager salaries. And this is disrespect for teachers. This was stated by Vitalia Polyakova, the principal of Kyiv Lyceum #109, in an interview with the "Komersant Ukrainian" YouTube channel.
“Teachers’ salaries are actually ridiculous, very ridiculous. And when our country announces that there will be an additional payment of one thousand hryvnias or one thousand three hundred hryvnias, it sounds humiliating, at least, I would say, from their mouths. Sometimes I want to say: “Give it to others”. To those who are more disabled, to those who cannot eat. And teachers are limping along as it is,” the principal said.
She emphasized that education is a strategic industry.
“A strategic industry cannot receive such a salary. This is where the disrespect for teachers and the attitude of the society originate,” explained Polyakova.
According to her, low teacher salaries are reflected in society’s attitude to educators.
“Teachers are made a laughingstock. That is, they are completely disrespected by parents. And this, in turn, leads to disrespect of children, because it is an example of what is in society,” she emphasized.
It should be noted that this refers to a monthly allowance of UAH 1300, which will be paid to teachers for working in unfavorable working conditions starting January 1, 2025.
Vitalia Polyakova is the director of Taras Shevchenko Lyceum #109 in Kyiv, located in the Pechersk district of the capital. She also holds a PhD in Psychology (2018), a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Psychodiagnostics and Scientific and Psychological Information at the H.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine.
on September 2, 2025, Polyakova found herself at the center of a public outcry when she did not allow students to attend class because they were wearing shorts. This incident became a topic of discussion in the media and among the parent community.
Commenting on the incident, Vitalia Polyakova explained that it was not about “fashion” or “dress code” but about the basic safety of schoolchildren. In the context of war and constant air raids, students should be dressed in such a way that in case of danger they would be comfortable and safe in shelters, she explained.
