The search for outstanding teachers continues: teachers are supported by well-known opinion leaders

On the day of the last bell, Nelya Shovkoplias, host of 1+1 Breakfast on 1+1 Ukraine, singer and composer Svitlana Tarabarova, TV presenter Oleksandr Pedan and military officer Yulia Payevska (Taira) joined together to thank teachers. In a touching video, they recalled their school days and emphasised the importance of teachers. After all, it is Ukrainian teachers who, despite the conditions and circumstances, continue to teach thousands of children, form national consciousness and important values.
‘Ukrainian teachers are incredible. They are important. Brave. Real. At a time when every seventh school has been destroyed as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion, educators continue to teach to the limit of human capabilities,’ Nelya Shovkoplias said on her Facebook page and called on Ukrainians to nominate their favourite teachers for the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine.

Other Ukrainian showbiz stars also joined in to support the teachers, creating a real flash mob. Ukrainian actress Ksenia Vertinskaya, together with star choreographer and winner of Dancing with the Stars Ilona Gvozdeva, shared their school memories, adding archival photos. TV presenters Maria Efrosinina and Grigory Reshetnik thanked the teachers and stressed the importance of the award:

‘I propose to pay tribute to your favourite teachers and nominate them for the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2024, an annual national award for outstanding teachers, which has been recognising the best Ukrainian teachers for eight years in a row,’ said Maria Yefrosynina.

‘Be grateful to teachers - nominate them for the award! Let the whole of Ukraine and the whole world know about them!’ adds Grigory Reshetnik.

Ilona Gvozdeva said on her page that, recalling her school years, she can confidently say that she loved learning, always took an active part in school life, loved her teachers and actively participated in sports competitions, while very rarely skipping classes:

‘Only now we can appreciate the golden times we studied in, the education we received and the teachers we had. Because the conditions in which our children are studying now, namely covid, alarms, basements, online, are just horrible! I am a teacher myself, and I can imagine how difficult it is for teachers to motivate themselves and their students to develop, learn, and encourage new

knowledge. Every day, despite all the anxiety and difficult working conditions, they have to make children fall in love with the learning process,’ the choreographer says.

In her story, Ksenia Vertinskaya recalled her first teacher, with whom they created performances, sang songs and learned new things. The actress emphasised that the award is an opportunity to recognise teachers who continue to teach children despite everything.

We would like to remind you that the application form for the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2024 is open until 8 July. So nominate your teachers or, if you are a teacher, fill out the application form and get a chance to win UAH 1,000,000 for your own educational project.

The Global Teacher Prize Ukraine is organised by Osvitoria with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Traditionally, 1+1 media acts as the general media partner, and the award is curated by Natalia Moseychuk, host of 1+1 Marathon TV channel and interviewer, who in her nomination ‘Choice with the Heart’ awards teachers who work with children in hospitals. The Kyivstar TV platform and Hromadske Radio provide information support.