Why talented children leave Ukraine after NMT

The mandatory mathematics test, part of the National Multi-Subject Test, which is scheduled to be introduced in 2025, has sparked lively discussions on social media. Ukrainian poet and military servicewoman Yaryna Chornoguz expressed her opinion on this topic.

She believes that the inclusion of mathematics as a mandatory subject for admission to various specialties, including humanitarian and creative fields, complicates access to higher education for many talented young men and women.

Chornoguz noted: “Mandatory mathematics in exams deprives children who have creative abilities of the opportunity to receive higher education.” She expressed satisfaction with the fact that she took the external examination at a time when mathematics was not mandatory for those who chose creative directions.

This perspective sparked active discussions among parents, teachers, and social media users. Many of them agreed that mandatory math testing is an obstacle for students with humanities or artistic inclinations. The comments emphasized that even with thorough preparation, some applicants may still struggle to pass the test due to stress and disproportionate requirements.

Soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine, Olga Matushenko, gave the example of her daughter, who was unable to pass math at the National Technical University despite having tutors and high scores in specialized subjects. This prompted the family to consider studying abroad.

On the other hand, supporters of mandatory math note that the abolition of this subject for humanities majors could lead to demands from technical majors to abolish the study of the history of Ukraine or the Ukrainian language. “Mathematics is the logic of thinking; it is necessary even in creative professions,” the critics argue.

As of June 2025, the mandatory subjects at the NMT are the Ukrainian language and mathematics. Applicants can choose a third subject from the following options: the history of Ukraine, a foreign language, physics, chemistry, or biology. The Ministry of Education and Science has not yet issued any official statements regarding potential changes to the NMT structure.

We remind you that new rules are being introduced in Ukraine for high school students. It is planned to reduce the number of subjects and change approaches to learning to minimize dependence on rote memorization.