The Verkhovna Rada has proposed simplifying the admissions process for higher education institutions: the National Multidisciplinary Test should not require mathematics
2 June 19:05
An alternative bill ( No. 15254-1) to the government’s proposal has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, which calls for reducing the number of subjects on the National Multidisciplinary Test (NMT) during martial law.
This was reported by Yulia Grishina, Chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The initiative was supported by 50 MPs from various factions.
The MPs who initiated the bill propose to adjust the formula for 2027: two mandatory subjects (Ukrainian language and Ukrainian history) and one subject chosen by the applicant.
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“Mathematics remains, but it will be optional for students applying to relevant majors. It is strategically important for the state to support technical and engineering majors; however, making a math exam mandatory for all majors does not solve the problem, but only complicates it,” says Yulia Grishina.
Yulia Grishina explained why this law is important:
- Preserving human capital.
According to Grishina, Ukraine is facing a catastrophic exodus of young people abroad. The key goal of the changes is to keep young people in the Ukrainian education system.
- Adults’ failures are not the children’s fault.
According to a recent survey by Rakuten Viber and the edtech company EdEra, 91% of teachers report a decline in results due to the war, stress (69%), and chronic online learning (54%).
“At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has failed to provide comprehensive solutions over the years: although there was a recommendation from the Education Committee, the concept for making up for educational losses has not been approved, teacher education has not been reformed, there is no systematic professional development for teachers, curricula have not been updated, and a new salary structure for educators has not been developed,” the MP writes.
- Unrealistic conditions.
The Chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation emphasizes that under current conditions, four subjects in a single day and four consecutive hours of testing constitute not only an excessive psychological burden but also a direct safety risk of having to interrupt the exam due to air raid alerts or shelling in shelters.
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She adds that comprehensive strategic solutions are needed from the Ministry of Education and Science to motivate:
- increase the weight of the math entrance exam score through weighting factors;
- increase scholarships for students majoring in these fields; introduce internship programs starting in the 3rd or 4th year with the opportunity to earn money;
- increase state-funded enrollment quotas and grant support for technical majors;
- conduct effective communication on this issue, etc.
“We must act as a responsible state that fights for its future, not one that pushes it abroad. I urge my fellow deputies and the educational community to unite around this initiative and support the bill,” Grishina concluded.
As a reminder, on the night of June 1, Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike on Kyiv . Numerous fires, the destruction of residential buildings, and damage to civilian infrastructure were reported in the capital.
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