For World Teachers’ Day

On 5 October, the world marks World Teachers’ Day. In Ukraine, the professional holiday honouring education workers is observed on the first Sunday of October, which falls on 4 October in 2026.

Five educators work as part of the Ukraine House Japan team, continuing their educational mission in Japan. They teach the Ukrainian language to Japanese learners, conduct workshops on traditional Ukrainian arts and crafts, and introduce local communities to the history and cultural heritage of Ukraine.

In the Ukrainian educational tradition, teachers are associated with long-term mentorship and a deep connection with their classes. In many Japanese schools, class composition and homeroom teachers may change periodically, helping pupils develop their ability to adapt to a new social environment. In Ukraine, a primary-school teacher usually teaches most subjects and looks after the same children from the first through the fourth grade. In middle and upper secondary school, a homeroom teacher often accompanies the same group for several years, becoming a trusted adviser to pupils and their families.

This respect for education has deep historical roots. During the period of the Kyivan state, from the ninth to the thirteenth century, learning was regarded as a great virtue. In 1576, Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi founded the Ostroh Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy in the city of Ostroh. It was one of the earliest institutions of higher learning in Eastern Europe and the first higher educational institution of the Eastern Slavic world. Ukrainian culture has continued to cultivate the tradition of teachers assuming responsibility for the intellectual and spiritual development of their pupils.

Education in Ukraine has continued amid war since 2014 and russia’s full-scale invasion since 2022. Regular air attacks and prolonged strikes against Ukrainian cities require extraordinary composure from teachers and a profound sense of responsibility for children’s lives. During air-raid alerts, teachers lead their pupils from classrooms to shelters, where lessons continue whenever circumstances allow.

Despite the war, Ukrainian schoolchildren continue to represent their country with distinction internationally. In 2026, they received 19 awards at the GENIUS Olympiad in the United States, won silver at the international Teens in AI techathon, and earned one gold and two silver medals at the International Olympiad in Informatics. Behind every such achievement stand not only the abilities and hard work of the pupils but also the knowledge, care, and daily support of their teachers.

Ukrainian educators demonstrate remarkable composure, dedication, and service to society. We express our sincere respect and profound gratitude to all teachers for their courage, patience, professional resilience, and tireless work in educating and guiding younger generations.