The sixth annual educational festival, ‘Teachers of the Future’, took place in Lviv, organized by the public union ‘Osviatoria’ and the ‘!FEST’ Holding of Emotions. This year’s event attracted over 2,500 teachers, school directors, educational managers, and change leaders from across Ukraine, centered around the theme ‘The Art of Shaping the Future’.
During the festival, Zoya Lytvyn, head of ‘Osviatoria’ and co-founder of the festival, emphasized the resilience of modern educators. She stated, “Contemporary teaching is an art of superhuman capabilities: starting the learning process after a night of shelling, supporting a child in their silence, and inspiring even when personal resources are depleted. It is through this tireless dedication that our future is not just approaching but being consciously, resiliently, and humanely shaped, despite everything.”
Yurko Nazaruk, co-founder of the festival and ‘!FEST’, highlighted the importance of warmth and connection in education. He expressed his hope that participants would leave the festival with enough warmth to spread throughout Ukraine until the next event.
A key highlight of the festival was ‘The Lesson of Freedom’ delivered by Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, who discussed freedom, talent, and the role of teachers in modern schooling. He remarked, “The primary task of teachers is to help children recognize their talents and strengths, guiding them in life. It is not merely about formal knowledge, but about nurturing each child’s unique abilities, which can be developed within the school environment.” He concluded his talk with a performance of his song ‘Thank You’, dedicated to Ukrainian educators.
Lviv’s Mayor Andriy Sadovyi also addressed the educators, acknowledging their vital contributions.
The festival featured a talk show with Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, who shared personal memories from his school days and insights into ongoing educational reforms. He expressed gratitude to teachers, stating, “Many professions hold the sky over us, such as military personnel and doctors. Yet, there is a quiet, national-scale heroism in the work of teachers. You have ensured that this war does not lead to a lost generation for Ukraine. The phenomenon of Ukrainian teaching will be recognized.”
Workshops, Interviews, and Discussions
Lisovyi, alongside journalist Serhiy Prytula, conducted a hackathon aimed at helping teenagers and educators navigate their paths and support students in schools.
Other notable segments included ‘The Lesson of Dignity’ by former Kherson Mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko, who spent three years in captivity, and a public interview with Natalia Moseichuk, curator of the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine. Mykolaienko reflected on the teacher’s influence on children, emphasizing the need for responsible guidance as students form their worldviews.
The festival also featured a movement session led by singer Svitlana Tarabarova, who shared her pride in seeing children engage in physical activities during air raid alerts. She noted that these activities help alleviate stress and restore a sense of safety.
Discussions on the impact of war on education included military personnel and teachers who have taken up arms, exploring how schools can address the experiences that have become part of Ukrainian family life.
Additional activities included school tours, coffee sessions with textbook authors, a traveling podcast ‘Radio Skovoroda’, a performance by veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine titled ‘Alone Together’, and a screening of Kateryna Hornostai’s documentary ‘The Time Tape’.
Extensive Program and Recognition
This year’s festival featured 12 thematic areas, including educational philosophy, primary education, preschool education, digital transformation, and mental health. Over two days, participants engaged in more than 250 events, including lectures, discussions, public interviews, and practical workshops led by both Ukrainian and international experts.
A significant portion of the program consisted of over 190 workshops where teachers shared their methodologies and practical tools. These sessions focused not only on challenges but also on effective solutions already implemented in classrooms and communities.
Prominent figures in education, such as Liliya Hryniv, Anna Sydoruk, and Richard Gerver from the UK, were among the experts contributing to the festival.
During the event, the Osviatoria.Media Award was presented to organizations and projects that have made significant contributions to the development of Ukrainian education.
‘Teachers of the Future’ once again served as a platform for Ukrainian educators to not only listen to experts but also share successful practices from their schools and communities. The festival remained focused on the teachers who help children grow, believe in themselves, and shape Ukraine’s future.
The festival was supported by various organizations, including WINNER Group, EdPro, Lviv City Council, Coca-Cola HBC Ukraine, and several charitable foundations.
The 'Teachers of the Future' festival in Lviv gathered over 2,500 educators to discuss the future of education in Ukraine amid ongoing challenges. The event featured prominent speakers, workshops, and discussions aimed at fostering resilience and innovative teaching methods.