Ukraine proposes to allow demobilization of military personnel with pedagogical education: what conditions are provided

In Ukraine, it is proposed to introduce a new basis for dismissal from military service during martial law. These are military personnel who have a pedagogical education, have been in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a long time and are ready to return to work in educational institutions after demobilization. The corresponding petition was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Who is proposed to be demobilized

The author of the electronic petition No. 41/011074-26еп proposes to grant the right to demobilization to a separate category of military personnel who have a pedagogical education and experience in the educational sector.

According to the initiative, in order to be dismissed from military service, it will be necessary to simultaneously meet the following conditions:

Pedagogical education. Availability of higher pedagogical education and at least one year of work experience in the specialty.
Length of service. Continuous military service during martial law for at least five years.
Absence of violations. A serviceman must not have any disciplinary sanctions or cases of being held liable for leaving a military unit without permission.
Return to teaching. Within three months after demobilization, a person must be employed in a full-time teaching position at a school or lyceum.

The last condition requires the serviceman to take on a corresponding legal obligation.

Why is it proposed to introduce a new basis for demobilization

The author of the petition explains the need for legislative changes by the staffing shortage in secondary education institutions.

According to him, a significant number of teachers joined the defense of Ukraine with the beginning of the full-scale invasion, which is why schools and lyceums faced a shortage of qualified employees.

At the same time, servicemen who perform combat missions for a long time are subjected to significant physical and psychological stress.

According to the author of the initiative, the return of military personnel with pedagogical education to teaching will allow solving two problems at the same time: ensuring the demobilization of some military personnel and reducing the personnel shortage in schools.

It is separately emphasized that teachers with combat experience can play an important role in raising children, forming discipline, responsibility and psychological resilience.

What changes need to be made to the legislation

To implement the proposed initiative, the author of the petition calls on the Cabinet of Ministers to initiate amendments to Article 26 of the Law of Ukraine “On Military Duty and Military Service”.

This article regulates the grounds for the discharge of military personnel from military service.

It is proposed to supplement it with a separate norm that will allow the demobilization of military personnel with pedagogical education, provided that certain criteria are met.

Can military teachers demobilize now

Currently, the proposed basis for demobilization is not a valid norm of the legislation.

This is exclusively an electronic petition that contains a proposal to change the procedure for discharge from military service.

Even if the initiative is supported, its implementation will require the establishment of a legislative procedure and the adoption of appropriate amendments to the law.

Thus, the presence of pedagogical education, teaching experience, or a long period of military service in itself does not currently provide an automatic right to demobilization under the proposed conditions.