The Ukrainian Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, has publicly rejected a proposal from several lawmakers to reduce the number of mandatory subjects in the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT) for 2027, particularly the suggestion to make mathematics optional. Lisovyi made these remarks during a press conference on June 4, as reported by various Ukrainian media outlets.
Lisovyi emphasized that the government has submitted a legislative proposal that aligns with the current requirements for 2026. He stated, “We categorically do not support the alternative bill that suggests different conditions regarding mathematics,” according to the Interfax agency.
The minister asserted that the NMT is designed to assess fundamental skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic, thus making mathematics a necessary component of the test.
Recently, a group of lawmakers registered an alternative bill in Parliament that seeks to decrease the number of subjects in the NMT for 2027. This proposal includes making mathematics a non-mandatory subject, allowing students to choose it if they wish. This discussion follows previous debates about the complexity of this year’s test questions, particularly in mathematics.
The proposed legislation aims to establish a model for entrance examinations in 2027 that includes standardized testing in two compulsory subjects—Ukrainian language and history of Ukraine—along with one subject of the student’s choice, which may still include mathematics. The explanatory note for the bill states that its goal is not to lower entry requirements but to ensure a fair and safe admission process amid the ongoing war.
The main sessions of the National Multi-Subject Test are currently taking place in Ukraine from May 20 to June 25. The NMT is being conducted under last year’s model, allowing for additional sessions. The subjects remain unchanged: Ukrainian language, mathematics, history of Ukraine, and one elective subject, which can be a foreign language, 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 full-scale invasion by Russia, Ukraine has replaced the traditional external assessment for entrants with the NMT.
In September 2023, the Ministry of Education and Science announced that the format of the NMT would change, requiring entrants to take four subjects: Ukrainian language, mathematics, history of Ukraine, and one elective subject. Participants will complete the tests in one day, with a total duration of four hours and a 20-minute break between sections.
Ukrainian Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi has firmly opposed legislative efforts to reduce mandatory subjects in the National Multi-Subject Test, particularly regarding mathematics. As the NMT sessions unfold, the government maintains its stance on preserving the integrity of the test amid ongoing discussions about its complexity.
Source: Interfax