Gold jewelry for teachers sparks debate in Ukraine as salaries rise

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

KYIV, UKRAINE — A Ukrainian mother’s question about whether teachers should receive gold jewelry on September 1 has triggered a wider online debate over gifts, boundaries and appreciation at the start of the school year.

The discussion emerged as Ukrainian educators began the new academic year with a further 20% increase in base salaries, adding a broader financial context to a debate that has divided parents and teachers over what constitutes an appropriate gesture of gratitude.

Gold jewelry question triggers discussion

The debate began after a mother of two schoolchildren, identified as Tetiana, asked users on Threads whether it was appropriate to give a teacher gold jewelry for the traditional September 1 First Bell celebration.

She also asked other parents what gifts their classes had prepared for teachers.

According to Ukrainian education outlet OBOZ.UA, responses quickly split between those who regarded a gift as a normal expression of appreciation and those who opposed expensive presents, particularly at the very beginning of a teacher’s relationship with a new class.

The issue was discussed particularly strongly in relation to first-grade teachers.

Some parents argued that a costly present on the first day of school was premature because neither families nor pupils had yet had enough time to build a meaningful relationship with the teacher.

Others defended traditional gifts such as flowers or small tokens, saying that they could be understood simply as a polite gesture rather than an expectation or reward.

Teachers push back with humor

Primary school teacher Olga Fedotova responded ironically to the suggestion that teachers should receive gold jewelry.

She joked that gold would be a rather modest present and suggested that parents might as well consider a new car, highlighting what she saw as the excessive nature of the proposal.

Other participants continued the discussion in a similar tone.

One commenter jokingly suggested that even gold was insufficient and referred to the idea of giving a teacher an apartment in Kyiv’s expensive Pechersk district.

The comments were largely sarcastic rather than genuine proposals, reflecting criticism of what some users viewed as an escalation in the value of gifts offered to teachers.

The discussion also highlighted a broader concern: expensive presents can create uncomfortable expectations among parents and potentially make families who cannot afford them feel pressured to contribute.

Some parents favor gifts only after years of teaching

Several participants drew a distinction between giving an expensive present at the beginning of a child’s education and offering a collective thank-you after years of work.

Some parents said a more valuable gift might be understandable at the end of secondary school, particularly in the 11th grade, when a teacher has worked with pupils over a long period.

In that context, they argued, a class gift could represent gratitude for years of teaching and support rather than an attempt to influence the relationship at the beginning of the school year.

Other users described more modest alternatives.

One example cited in the discussion involved a private-school class that gave its teacher flowers and a massage gift certificate at the end of the school year.

Such examples prompted users to suggest that practical or symbolic presents may be more appropriate than jewelry or other high-value items.

Some teachers say parents should skip gifts altogether

Teachers also participated in the debate, with some saying they would prefer parents not to give them gifts at all.

According to the discussion reported by OBOZ.UA, one teacher argued that expensive presents are unnecessary and can contribute to negative public perceptions of educators by creating the impression that teachers expect material rewards from parents.

The debate therefore produced several distinct positions: some parents continue to see gifts as a harmless September 1 tradition, others prefer only flowers or small symbolic items, while another group believes material gifts should be removed entirely from the relationship between families and teachers.

The differing reactions also underline how customs surrounding the first day of school are changing as families reconsider both the financial and ethical dimensions of traditional teacher gifts.

Teacher salaries rise by another 20% from September 1

The debate comes as Ukraine introduces significant changes to pay for educators.

From September 1, base salaries for teaching and academic staff are rising by another 20%, following a 30% increase introduced at the beginning of 2026. The Ministry of Education and Science says the combined increase during 2026 amounts to 50% compared with 2025 levels.

The increase applies to the base salary rather than being structured solely as a separate temporary allowance. Because a number of additional payments are calculated from the base rate, the total monthly increase will differ according to position, seniority, qualifications, workload and other allowances.

Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said the government was also changing the remuneration system itself, moving away from the Unified Tariff Scale toward a model in which salary depends on the employee’s position and a base figure linked to the average wage in Ukraine’s economy.

The new mechanism applies to schools, higher education institutions, inclusive resource centers and state educational institutions. Local authorities have also been advised to implement corresponding increases in locally funded preschool, extracurricular and vocational education institutions.

Frontline teachers and vocational educators retain additional payments

Separate support mechanisms will remain in place for some categories of teachers.

Educators teaching in person in frontline areas will continue to receive an additional UAH 2,600 payment.

Teaching staff at colleges who train specialists for priority industries including defense production, energy, mechanical engineering and metalworking will be eligible for an additional 10% of their base salary.

The Education Ministry says the new salary structure is intended to make remuneration more closely reflect employees’ roles and qualifications while raising overall pay levels across the education sector.

For Ukrainian families and teachers, September 1 therefore began with two very different discussions about money: one concerning the boundaries of private gifts from parents, and another involving a nationwide government overhaul of educators’ salaries.

The online debate suggests there is no broad consensus on how — or whether — teachers should receive presents at the beginning of the academic year. What many participants did agree on was that appreciation for educators does not necessarily have to be measured by the financial value of a gift.

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