The Ministry of Education and Science was asked to add UAH 3.6 billion for education in the 2027 budget: what are the funds needed for?

Minister of Education and Science Andriy Butenko called for an increase in funding for the education sector by 3.6 billion hryvnias in 2027. These funds are planned to be used, in particular, for student safety, the construction of shelters, and the renovation of school infrastructure.

The official stated this during a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Innovation.

According to the minister, the draft state budget currently provides for lower expenditures for a number of educational programs than last year. He proposed leaving them at least at the 2026 level.

Among the needs that require additional funding, Butenko mentioned the construction of new shelters and underground schools, the completion of projects already underway, the renovation of the “New Ukrainian School” spaces, the modernization of cafeterias, and the purchase of equipment for food units. Funds are also needed for school buses and workshop equipment.

“Safety of education and access to the in-person format, arrangement of shelters, renovation of the spaces of the “New Ukrainian School”, modernization of canteens, purchase of equipment for catering units and school buses, equipment of workshops – all this requires attention,” the minister noted.

At the same time, Deputy Minister of Finance Roman Yermolychev stated that during the preparation of the budget, the Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Education and Science, worked out all the planned expenditures. According to him, if the department sees inefficient use of funds under individual programs, they can be directed to other needs.

Yermolychev emphasized that the draft budget already provides for 50.8 billion hryvnias more than in 2026.

“What is the purpose of the increase for 2027? So that we divert budget funds from defense to education, and they just lie there? Let’s look at the effectiveness of using education funds for each program. They should be directed at teachers, children, quality first and foremost, education,” he said.

Currently, the draft state budget for 2027 provides for 328.5 billion hryvnias for education and science. The final amount of funding may change during the consideration of the document in the Verkhovna Rada.

Among the main expenditure items are salaries of educational institution employees, educational subvention, student meals, academic scholarships, and construction of shelters.