The «Education Forum of Odessa» brought together leaders and staff from educational institutions across the city, from preschools to universities, along with representatives of government bodies and local administrations.

Key issues needing urgent attention and collaborative efforts were on the agenda to enhance the quality of educational services.

Due to the war, the number of students in Odessa's schools has decreased. However, the burden on educators remains high, while state salaries are low. Currently, there are 474 vacant positions in educational institutions (down from over 600). There is a particular shortage of teachers for natural science subjects.

The additional responsibilities placed on teachers, which are unpaid, significantly affect the prestige of the profession. This includes organizing the work of "Points of Resilience" and shelters.

The introduction of a municipal supplement of 3000 UAH, which is nearly half a salary, has helped attract young specialists to schools, but the demand for such professionals remains high.

The average age of a teacher in Odessa is 46 years. Recently, the quality of teacher training has also become a challenge due to rapidly changing curriculum requirements.

During the forum, the mayor of Odessa, Gennady Trukhanov, tasked the head of the Department of Education and Science, Olena Buiyevych, to work with financial experts and the relevant parliamentary commission to develop a system of municipal allowances for teaching and technical staff.

The mayor also instructed the development of a cooperation mechanism with the Institute of Physics at Odessa National University to utilize its resources for teaching natural sciences to high school students.

«Our priorities today are clear: army – education – medicine,» – concluded Mayor Gennady Trukhanov.