The National Multi-Subject Test (NMT) in Ukraine has come under scrutiny from the country’s Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, who described the exam format as a “test of endurance” rather than a genuine assessment of knowledge. His comments reflect growing concerns about the pressures faced by students during this critical evaluation period.
Lubinets highlighted that the current testing system imposes significant stress on students, as they are required to take four subjects consecutively in one day. He argued that such a demanding schedule could overwhelm even adult test-takers, questioning the validity of the results, which he believes may reflect resilience to fatigue rather than actual academic proficiency.
Technical difficulties have also marred the testing experience. Lubinets shared an account from a participant, a medalist and national biology Olympiad winner, who faced numerous issues during the test, including malfunctioning equipment and software glitches. The student reported that these problems began from the outset, causing confusion and wasting valuable time. Lubinets posed a critical question: how can students be expected to perform under such conditions?
Additionally, the ombudsman raised concerns about the adequacy of safety measures during air raid alerts, emphasizing that testing should be conducted in secure shelters, a requirement that he believes has not been sufficiently met.
Further complicating the situation, Lubinets criticized Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi for suggesting that students lacking confidence should consider vocational education instead of pursuing higher education. He characterized this remark as an evasion of deeper systemic issues affecting the education sector.
In response, Tetiana Vakulenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment, disputed some of Lubinets’ claims. She provided clarifications regarding the content of the tests and assured that temporary examination centers are striving to maintain safe conditions for students. The Ministry of Education continues to advocate for the requirement of four subjects, including mathematics, to uphold high standards for higher education.
The NMT sessions are currently taking place from May 20 to June 25, following last year’s model, which allows for additional testing sessions. The subjects tested remain consistent, including Ukrainian language, mathematics, history of Ukraine, and one elective subject from a list that includes foreign languages, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, or Ukrainian literature.
Official results will be available in participants’ personal accounts by July 3, with an additional testing session scheduled for July 17-24. Due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine has replaced traditional external assessments with the NMT.
In September 2023, the Ministry of Education announced that the format of the NMT would change, mandating that students take four subjects instead of three, including Ukrainian language, mathematics, history of Ukraine, and one elective subject. Students will complete the tests in one day, with a total duration of four hours and a 20-minute break between sections.
The National Multi-Subject Test in Ukraine faces criticism for its demanding format and technical issues, raising concerns about student well-being and assessment validity. The Ministry of Education defends the test structure amid ongoing challenges due to the conflict with Russia.