The education system in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region has suffered a financial failure

At the end of last year, the education system in the TOT of Kherson region faced an open financial failure.

According to the National Resistance Center (NRC), instead of any final payments, school and kindergarten staff received notices of layoffs, new staffing tables, and actual confirmation of the lack of funds in the sector. This is happening against the backdrop of public statements by the occupation administration about the growth of budget revenues and the stabilization of the region's economy.

According to the SSC sources, during the year, educational institutions in the TOT of Kherson region were actually maintained at the expense of the educators themselves and the parents of children studying in schools and kindergartens. It is noted that teachers, educators, and technical staff, along with students' families, were forced to pay for minor repairs, office supplies, household needs, and part of the utility costs to keep the institutions functioning. The promised extra pay for professional holidays was never paid, and at the end of the year, people were told directly that there was no money in the budget. At the same time, the shortage of funds is selective. Insiders report that some sectors of the public sector continue to pay bonuses, "thirteenth salaries" and additional incentive payments. This does not indicate a general lack of funds, but a deliberate redistribution of resources, in which education is among the lowest priorities.

The practice of massive layoffs of school and kindergarten guards under the pretext of "bringing them up to Russian standards" is particularly outrageous. According to the CNS, contracts are being prepared with private security companies affiliated with companies close to the administration. The cost of such security is several times higher than the previous salaries of local employees, which creates additional corruption risks.

In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the situation with teacher salaries continues to deteriorate rapidly. Against the backdrop of statements by the Russian "Minister of Education" Sergei Kravtsov about "objective difficulties" and the need to "wait a little longer," these problems have become chronic and more acute in the TOT.

Although the occupation administrations declare "equalization of salaries" and integration of the educational system into Russian standards, according to the SLC sources, teachers face regular delays in payments, reduction of allowances and a non-transparent system of accruals. In neighboring schools, salaries can vary significantly, and the real level of income is eaten away by inflation and rising prices for basic goods. In addition, a significant portion of payments is tied to loyalty: participation in propaganda activities, implementation of Russian programs, and pressure on students and parents. Refusal or passive resistance leads to the deprivation of bonuses or the creation of conditions under which teachers are forced to resign.

Analysts note that this situation is not accidental. It is a consequence of the general underfunding of the social sphere, budget shortfalls, and the occupation authorities' secondary attitude to education. Public statements about the "difficult legacy" and future reforms only cover up the lack of a real policy to support teachers.

The report notes that as a result, education in the TOT of Kherson region is turning into a residual item of expenditure. Financial policy is used as a tool to put pressure on public sector employees and students' families, while the responsibility for managerial failures is shifted to teachers, educators and technical staff. This undermines the credibility of any statements made by the occupation authorities and creates long-term risks for the quality of education and social stability of the region.

Володимир Шкаєв