The State of Training Specialists in Pedagogical Specialties at Higher Education Institutions: The Impact of Public Administration Mechanisms

The article presents the results of an analysis of the state of training of specialists with higher education in the field of knowledge 01 "Education/Pedagogy". The provisions of legislative and regulatory documents governing the issues of professional training of teaching staff are analysed. The authors have reviewed a range of scholarly works that form part of the contemporary academic discourse, in which significant attention is paid to the theory and practice of higher pedagogical education. The article examines the staffing of general secondary education institutions with teachers and presents the student-to-teacher ratio in Ukraine and in EU member states for the 2019/2020–2023/2024 academic years. The composition of teaching staff during the specified period is analysed in various aspects: by teaching category (teachers of grades 1–4, teachers of grades 5–11 by subject), by level of education, and by age group (under 30 years and over 60 years). Based on data from the Unified State Electronic Education Database, the number of bachelor’s and master’s graduates in pedagogical specialties and subject specialisations is indicated, including those who studied at the expense of the state budget. The total number of young professionals who graduated from higher education institutions over the past six years is calculated, broken down by specialisations within specialty 014 "Secondary Education". Given the state's focus on inclusive education, the number of graduates in specialty 016 "Special Education" is analysed as potential staff for inclusive classrooms. The levels of education required for employment in specific teaching positions are outlined and compared with requirements in foreign countries. The number of entrants in the 2023/2024 academic year in education-related specialties is also presented. The article considers the provisions of the pedagogical internship introduced by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, one of the key tasks of which is to adapt novice specialists to real teaching conditions.