The Ukrainian education system, amidst the war, has faced unprecedented challenges but has found a way to survive and develop. The Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lyshevych, revealed shocking statistics: over the last three years, the sector's budget has increased by 100 billion hryvnias. However, as it turned out, this growth was made possible exclusively through external resources.
Complete dependence on external financing
During the conference "Education of the New Ukraine 2.0", the head of the Ministry of Education and Science admitted that attracting domestic investment is extremely difficult in current realities. "Right now, all education is funded from the outside," Lyshevych stated. It is thanks to international partners that large-scale projects have been implemented, including the creation of modern laboratories and six research centers.
The CampEX program, funded by the World Bank, played a key role in this. These funds allowed not just to preserve the system, but to begin the modernization of critically important nodes of science and education.
Struggle with outdated infrastructure
Despite the influx of funds, the minister does not hide that the problem remains acute. The main obstacle to development is the physical state of educational institutions. Lyshevych described the situation as a struggle with outdated infrastructure: from worn-out equipment to the lack of social spaces necessary for creativity and innovation.
The Ministry has set an ambitious goal — to ensure equal conditions for all students. Special emphasis is placed on vocational schools. "A young person should not feel worse because they chose vocational education instead of university education," Lyshevych emphasized. The priority is the creation of comfortable social infrastructure, including dormitories, which allow students to live a full life outside the classroom walls.
Revolution in university management
Modernization concerns not only walls and equipment but also the personnel. Over three years, more than 40 universities (and according to the latest data — already almost 50) have received new leadership. According to the minister, this is not just a change of names on plaques, but a fundamental change of culture within the institutions.
The authorities are ready to make unpopular decisions and break established stereotypes in the scientific community to achieve a qualitative leap in the development of education.
Disputes over NMT: mathematics under attack?
Alongside infrastructural changes, a dispute has flared up in the country regarding the future of the National Multisubject Testing (NMT). A bill has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, which proposes a radical change in the format of the exam as early as 2027.
According to the initiative, mathematics is to be excluded from the list of mandatory subjects, leaving only the Ukrainian language and the History of Ukraine. However, this proposal has met with stiff resistance from the UZKO. Experts from the organization insist that the mathematics result is a significant indicator of the success of future students and its exclusion could damage the quality of selection for universities.