Ukrainian Primary School Teacher Among World's Top 50 Teachers
Lesya Pavliuk, an elementary school teacher from Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine, has been shortlisted as one of the world's top 50 teachers, according to the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2024.
‘Our finalists come from different parts of the world and create a transformative impact in different environments. They teach in remote towns and villages, innovate in urban schools, advocate for inclusivity, protect children's rights, and inspire significant change,’ the award organisers said.
Pavliuk received her pedagogical education at Kolomyia Pedagogical College and Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. She has been working as a primary school teacher since 2012.
‘Teaching during the war and the COVID-19 pandemic, Lesya has faced extraordinary challenges. Air raid warnings and working with internally displaced students have become part of her daily routine, but she has found inventive ways to adapt,’ the Global Teacher Prize 2024 said.
One of Lesya Pavliuk's achievements is the development of a course for learning the Ukrainian alphabet called Bukvyk, which is based on the mnemonic methodology of memorisation through associations.
Even before the NUS reform, the teacher started working with inclusive classes, helping children with special educational needs to integrate into the school environment. One of her students even moved from an inclusive programme to a standard one and excelled in her studies.
‘The world needs to hear about the resilience, sustainability and adaptability of Ukrainian education in times of war. If I have the opportunity to tell about it, I will do my best. A few days ago, my godmother wanted Europe to know about me, and today I found out that I was among the TOP 50 best teachers in the world,’ Lesya Pavliuk commented, according to the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine.
As The Gaze previously reported, in October 2024, Lesya Pavliuk won the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2024 and was voted the winner by the public.