Ukraine: Urgent call to action to stop legislative changes that threaten teachers – Education International

Report on Proposed Legislative Changes in Ukraine and their Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

An urgent appeal has been issued by Education International (EI) and the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) concerning proposed legislative changes in Ukraine. The Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine (TUESWU), representing nearly one million professionals, reports that these proposals, linked to the Draft Law on the State Budget for 2026, pose a significant threat to the teaching profession and undermine Ukraine’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Analysis of Proposed Measures and SDG Implications

The parliamentary proposals introduce several measures that directly contradict the principles of the SDGs, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

2.1 Proposed Legislative Changes

• Termination of all permanent employment contracts for teachers by 31 August 2026.
• Mandatory transition to fixed-term contracts of one to five years, with dismissal for those who refuse.
• An increase in the weekly workload for teachers, projected to result in the dismissal of over 70,000 educators.
• Reduction of remuneration and allowances, including seniority and professional title bonuses.
• Amendment of core education legislation through the Budget Law, a practice prohibited by the Constitution of Ukraine.

3.0 Conflict with Sustainable Development Goals

3.1 SDG 4: Quality Education

The proposed measures threaten to devastate the educational system. The dismissal of over 70,000 teachers and the deterioration of working conditions for remaining staff will severely compromise the quality of education for millions of students. This directly undermines the target of SDG 4 to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

3.2 SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The legislative changes represent a direct assault on the principles of decent work. By eliminating job security, forcing precarious fixed-term contracts, increasing workloads, and reducing pay, the proposals contravene the core tenets of SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

3.3 SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The proposals violate multiple international labor standards, including International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87, 98, and 151. Furthermore, the attempt to amend fundamental education laws via the state budget process circumvents constitutional law, weakening the rule of law and institutional integrity, which are foundational to SDG 16.

4.0 International Call for Action

In response to this critical situation, EI and ETUCE urge all member organizations to take immediate action to support Ukrainian educators and uphold the SDGs. The deadline for the budget adoption is 2 December 2025.

1. Direct Advocacy: Write immediately to the Chair of the Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) of Ukraine demanding the withdrawal of the amendments.
2. Diplomatic Pressure: Send copies of the correspondence to the Ukrainian embassy in your country or to the permanent missions of Ukraine in Budapest, Geneva, or Washington.
3. Public Solidarity: Publicly support the TUESWU Statement and express solidarity using the hashtags #НІ_звуженню_прав (“NO to restriction of rights”) and #ТАК_три_мінімальні (“YES three minimums”).
4. Network Mobilization: Share this appeal widely with professional and civil society networks.

5.0 Conclusion

The proposed legislative changes in Ukraine pose a severe threat not only to the rights and livelihoods of teachers but also to the nation’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Safeguarding quality education and decent work is essential for Ukraine’s sustainable future and post-war recovery. International solidarity is critical to ensure these detrimental measures are not adopted.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article’s central theme is the threat to education in Ukraine. The proposed legislative changes, which would lead to mass dismissals and worsen working conditions for teachers, are predicted to “deteriorate education quality” and “harm millions of students.” This directly connects to the core mission of SDG 4, which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article extensively details the negative impact on teachers’ labor rights and working conditions. Issues such as the termination of permanent employment, forced transition to precarious fixed-term contracts, increased workload, and reduced pay are direct affronts to the principles of decent work. The text explicitly states that the measures “violate international labour standards,” specifically ILO Conventions, which is a key concern of SDG 8.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article touches upon issues of governance and the rule of law. It notes that the proposed method of legislation—amending “core education laws through the Budget Law”—is a “practice prohibited by the Constitution of Ukraine.” This highlights a challenge to strong, accountable, and transparent institutions, which is the focus of SDG 16.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The proposed measures would create greater inequality. By reducing remuneration and job security for a large professional group (nearly one million education professionals), the changes would increase economic inequality. Furthermore, a decline in the quality of public education could disproportionately affect students from disadvantaged backgrounds, thereby exacerbating social inequalities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.c (under SDG 4)

  This target aims to “substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers.” The article describes measures that would have the opposite effect. The planned dismissal of “over 70,000 teachers” and the degradation of the teaching profession would drastically reduce the supply of qualified teachers, directly undermining this target.

• Target 8.5 (under SDG 8)

  This target calls for “full and productive employment and decent work for all.” The proposed changes—terminating permanent contracts, enforcing fixed-term employment, increasing workloads, and reducing pay—are the antithesis of decent work and threaten the employment of tens of thousands of teachers.

• Target 8.8 (under SDG 8)

  This target focuses on protecting “labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers… and those in precarious employment.” The article explicitly states the proposals “violate International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87, 98, and 151” and would force teachers into precarious employment by eliminating permanent contracts. This is a direct contravention of Target 8.8.

• Target 16.3 (under SDG 16)

  This target is to “promote the rule of law at the national and international levels.” The article’s claim that the legislative process being used is “prohibited by the Constitution of Ukraine” points to a failure to uphold the national rule of law, which is a key component of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 4.c

  The article provides a direct, quantifiable indicator: the potential dismissal of “over 70,000 teachers.” This number serves as a direct measure of the reduction in the supply of teachers.

• Indicators for Targets 8.5 and 8.8

  Several indicators are mentioned or implied:

  • Type of employment contracts: The article states a plan to “Terminate all permanent employment contracts for teachers” and force a “transition to fixed-term contracts.” The proportion of teachers on permanent versus fixed-term contracts is a clear indicator of employment precarity.
  • Violation of labour rights: The article explicitly names the violation of “ILO Conventions 87, 98, and 151” as a key issue, which can be used as an indicator of the protection of labor rights.
  • Changes in remuneration: The proposal to “Reduce remuneration and allowances” is a specific, measurable indicator related to decent pay.

• Indicator for Target 16.3

  An implied indicator is the adherence to constitutional law in the legislative process. The article highlights a specific instance of non-adherence by stating that amending core laws via the Budget Law is “prohibited by the Constitution of Ukraine.” Tracking such legislative practices can serve as an indicator for the rule of law.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ei-ie.org