---
title: "Math and History Remain Mandatory: Ukraine's Ministry of Education Responds to MPs' Initiative"
description: "The Ministry of Education of Ukraine rejected the idea of abolishing mathematics and history from the mandatory NMT subjects. Minister Oksen Lysyov stated that basic knowledge is critical, and the current test format remains accessible to applicants. 🎓📉"
date: 2026-06-08T13:34:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/math-and-history-remain-mandatory-ukraines-ministry-of-education-responds-to-mps-initiative
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Math and History Remain Mandatory: Ukraine's Ministry of Education Responds to MPs' Initiative

![Student at a computer in a computer class, illustrating the topic of mandatory subjects in Ukrainian schools](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/08/matematika-i-istoriya-ostayutsya-obyazatelnymi-minprosveshcheniya-otvetilo-na-initsiativu-deputatov/matematika-i-istoriya-ostayutsya-obyazatelnymi-minprosveshcheniya-otvetilo-na-initsiativu-deputatov-1.webp)

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has commented on the initiative to change the structure of the National Multidisciplinary Test (NMT). The department stated its categorical disagreement with proposals to abolish mathematics and the history of Ukraine as mandatory subjects for applicants.

### Basic Knowledge as a Priority

Oksen Lysyov, Minister of Education and Science, speaking to journalists, emphasized that admission to higher education institutions must guarantee the verification of fundamental knowledge. In his opinion, mathematics is one of the basic competencies required of a modern graduate, and moving it to the category of elective disciplines is unacceptable.

"Therefore, I am categorically against abolishing mathematics and moving it to elective disciplines," the head of the department stated. The minister took a similar stance regarding the history of Ukraine, noting that this subject must also remain an integral part of mandatory testing.

### Discussion on Difficulty and Competition

In the context of the discussion on NMT-2027, society and MPs periodically raise the issue of the exam's difficulty. Lysyov dispelled myths that changing the difficulty level of the test could radically affect the competitive environment. He explained that any adjustments—whether simplification or complication—would only change the average scores of all participants, but the principle of competitive selection in universities would remain unchanged.

Statistics confirm the accessibility of the exam: the share of applicants who did not pass the minimum threshold is about 20%. This indicates that the current format allows for filtering out those who lack basic knowledge but is not an insurmountable barrier for the majority.

### Prospects for the Admission Campaign

The minister also reminded that the NMT is a temporary format of entrance examinations introduced for the period of the war. In the long term, Ukraine plans to return to the system of External Independent Evaluation (EIE). However, regardless of the chosen format, the requirement to demonstrate reading, writing, and counting skills will remain relevant.

Parallel to the discussion on the test format, an alternative bill from the government was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, which provides for the preservation of the current model of the National Multidisciplinary Test, contradicting the initiative of a group of people's deputies to reduce the number of mandatory subjects.