The Education Ombudsman urged teachers to report instances of bullying directed at them
Education Ombudsman Nadiya Leshchyk has called on Ukrainian teachers to actively defend their rights and officially report incidents of harassment.
According to her, despite the existence of violence against teachers, the number of official complaints remains critically low. Specifically, of the 66 reports of abuse in educational institutions received this year, only two concern the protection of teachers from bullying.
An analysis of the complaints shows that teachers more often suffer from mobbing—harassment by colleagues or management. In 2024, 68 such complaints were recorded, and in 2025, their number rose to 84. The Ombudsman noted that an analysis of court decisions confirms the existence of violence against teachers, which is sometimes perpetrated by students’ parents. In such cases, the offense is not always classified as bullying due to the lack of systematicity, but it still requires proper legal assessment.
Among the main reasons for keeping the problem under wraps, educators cite:
pressure from the administration and a reluctance to clash with management;
fear of appearing unprofessional or ruining a child’s future;
lack of knowledge about legal protection procedures.
Nadiya Leshchyk reminded that the law guarantees teachers the right to protect their professional honor, dignity, and to work in a safe environment. She urged school principals not to discriminate against teachers who report violence, but to provide them with support and act strictly within the bounds of the law. A swift response to such reports is the only way to eliminate the causes of conflict and normalize relationships within the school community. Currently, the Office of the Education Ombudsman continues to monitor the situation to strengthen the protection of education workers’ rights.
Earlier, the UN published disheartening statistics on bullying in Ukrainian schools.
Twenty-six schools across various regions of the country will implement a system for developing soft skills, which will improve the quality of education and reduce the incidence of bullying.
