Initiative to make mathematics optional for most applicants has sparked widespread criticism. Educators, scientists, and military personnel assert that such a decision could harm the future of Ukrainian science, technology, and defense.
Mathematics (illustrative photo) / © pexels.com
The proposal to make mathematics non-compulsory for the majority of entrants to Ukrainian universities has provoked a strong reaction within educational and scientific circles. Critics of the bill warn of risks to engineering education, the defense sector, and Ukraine’s future competitiveness.
Details were reported by TSN.ua.
An alternative bill, No. 15254-1, has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, proposing to reduce the number of compulsory subjects in the National Multisubject Test from four to three. Applicants would take Ukrainian language, history of Ukraine, and one elective subject.
Mathematics would remain compulsory only for specialties where it is a core subject, particularly in technical and engineering fields.
One of the initiators, People’s Deputy Yulia Hryshyna, explained that the changes are intended to reduce psychological stress on schoolchildren during wartime and help retain young talent within the Ukrainian education system.
The proposal has drawn a wave of criticism
Kseniia Semenova, President of the Kyiv Aviation Institute, emphasized that Ukraine is already experiencing a severe shortage of engineers, especially in the defense sector. According to her, after physics and chemistry ceased to be important for admission, students’ interest in these subjects plummeted.
“Physics, chemistry, and mathematics in school – this is our defense industry. Physics and chemistry have already been lost. Well, let’s add mathematics to that,” stated Semenova.
Reaction of a Threads user. / © Threads
Kateryna Terletska, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, called the potential cancellation of compulsory mathematics a “shot in the country’s head.” She recalled that mathematics is the foundation of modern defense technologies, artificial intelligence, cryptography, navigation, and unmanned systems.
“When a country is fighting for its existence, it should raise educational standards, not abandon them,” the scientist emphasized.
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Anton Senenko, a senior researcher at the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, also sharply criticized the initiative. According to him, modern warfare is primarily a war of technologies, where success depends on knowledge in mathematics, physics, and engineering.
“A battle of mathematicians, physicists, chemists, and economists has begun,” he noted.
A similar stance was expressed by veteran Viktor Taran, who called the legislative initiative educational populism. In his opinion, instead of simplifying requirements, the state should improve the quality of teaching and help students master complex disciplines.
Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics, also joined the discussion, commenting ironically on the situation: “The world: the future is AI, and AI is mathematics. Ukrainian deputies: we are canceling the NMT in mathematics.”
At the same time, proponents of the changes emphasize that it is not about completely removing mathematics from the NMT, but about making it compulsory only for those specialties where it is directly needed.
Currently, the bill has only been registered in parliament and has not yet been considered by deputies.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine plans to change its approach to the admission campaign and abolish the state final attestation for schoolchildren in 2027.
It is also reminded that a discussion erupted on social media in Kyiv regarding tents set up by citizens at metro stations during air raids. After another massive attack, some people complained about a lack of space in the subway, while individual passengers occupied significant areas with large tents, chairs, and belongings.
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