The state’s debt for scholarship payments in 2023 amounts to nearly 30 million hryvnias

The outstanding amount for scholarships in 2023 amounts to nearly 30 million hryvnias, as reported by the Ministry of Education. The highest arrears are in higher education institutions in Sumy Oblast with over 5.5 million hryvnias.

Lviv Oblast follows with over 4 million, and Vinnytsia with over 3 million hryvnias. However, data was not provided for all regions. Additionally, the Ministry of Education disclosed that currently, the number of scholarship recipients across the country is reduced to 35% (for the 2023/2024 I semester) instead of the 40-45% mandated by legislation.

The Ministry is striving to find internal reserves to ensure at least minimum scholarship payments in all regions. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance insists on further reducing the scholarship limit due to the country’s financial hardships linked to the war. Regarding the even distribution of funds for scholarships among regions, the Ministry did not provide a response.