Demand to Reassess University Admission Thresholds
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, has urged authorities to reconsider how minimum competitive scores are set for university admissions. He argues that the unique circumstances under which students took the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT) must be taken into account. According to Lubinets, the realities of preparing for and sitting the exams—including air raid sirens, technical failures, and other disruptions—should not be ignored.
Students did not take the NMT in a peaceful country. They faced the test amid explosions and sirens, after sleepless nights caused by attacks, during power outages, and in unheated rooms. Lubinets pointed out that the exam process was frequently interrupted for hours at a time, harming participants' focus and mental well-being. He also highlighted the lack of effective protocols for addressing technical glitches, limited options for appealing results, and the impossibility of retaking the test when external factors influenced outcomes.
Graduates' Struggles and Systemic Gaps
According to the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA), roughly 20% of graduates fail to meet the NMT's passing threshold. In 2026, that figure rose to 14.83%—nearly 49,000 test-takers who did not achieve minimum scores in at least one subject. Lubinets acknowledged the state's understandable goal of selecting the most prepared and motivated students for higher education. However, he stressed that current evaluations must consider not only future risks but also the actual conditions under which Ukrainian children prepared for and took the NMT.
“While the admissions campaign is still ongoing, we should revisit how minimum competitive scores are set for certain specialties. This isn't about lowering educational standards. It's about fairness and recognizing the unprecedented circumstances in which Ukrainian children are living and studying today,” Lubinets stated.
He further emphasized that the right to education includes not just access to learning but also fair and equal admission conditions. “We cannot afford to lose a generation of young Ukrainians. They are the ones who will rebuild our country,” he concluded.
Lubinets' remarks underscore the need to account for the specific conditions shaping Ukraine's educational landscape, particularly during wartime. Revising how competitive scores are determined could be a step toward ensuring fairness for applicants who have faced immense hardships while preparing for their exams. This issue touches not only on academic standards but also on the state's social responsibility toward its citizens in a time of crisis.
In light of the ongoing challenges faced by students during the National Multi-Subject Test, it is crucial to examine the disparities in educational standards. The call for a reassessment of passing scores is not only about fairness but also reflects a broader issue of alignment between the curriculum and exam expectations. For further insights into the discrepancies between educational programs and testing requirements, see how the Ombudsman advocates for a lower passing score due to these mismatches in a related article.