Technical Glitches and Overload: Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner Slams National Multi-Subject Test

National Multi-Subject Test Under Fire

According to Главком: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, has sharply criticized the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT), citing excessive strain on test-takers, recurring technical failures, and the lack of retake opportunities. According to him, these issues undermine the exam’s credibility and its ability to guarantee equal access to education. The main NMT sessions in Ukraine run from May 20 to June 25, with over 355,000 individuals registered to participate-43,000 more than last year.

Lubinets pointed out that requiring students to take four subjects consecutively places an unreasonable burden on teenagers. He highlighted the case of a female participant-a medalist and winner of a national biology Olympiad-who faced numerous technical problems during the exam, including a faulty mouse, a computer freeze, improperly displayed tasks, and lost time. The Vinnytsia Assessment Center informed her that the situation could not be rectified.

“An exam with no guarantees: the NMT as a test of nerves. In theory, it’s about knowledge. In practice, it’s increasingly about endurance, stress, and technical luck.” Dmytro Lubinets

Equally telling is the story of a history teacher with 18 years of experience who took the NMT for the first time and scored 183 points. She also noted the uneven distribution of tasks and questions that go beyond the school curriculum. Lubinets stressed that this issue demands an immediate response from the Ministry of Education and Science.

“While the Minister of Education and Science suggests that students unsure of their readiness or feeling stressed by the test should consider vocational education as an alternative, a logical question arises: is this about reform or about avoiding complexity?” Dmytro Lubinets

NMT-2026: A Snapshot of Challenges

On June 8, hundreds of graduates in the Odesa region took the NMT-2026 under continuous air raid sirens. Air alerts were sounded four times that day, causing some participants to finish the exam at 8:00 PM or later. Official results for the NMT-2026 will be announced by July 3, with additional sessions scheduled from July 17 to 24, after which participants will receive their scores by July 29. Approximately 20% of graduates fail to meet the minimum passing threshold for the NMT.

Lubinets’ criticism underscores the urgent need to ensure quality education and equal opportunities for all test-takers. Given the technical issues and psychological toll associated with the exam, the Ministry of Education and Science should address these shortcomings and consider potential changes to the testing format. Such reforms could have a lasting impact on Ukraine’s education system, particularly in how student knowledge is assessed.

As concerns about the National Multi-Subject Test mount, it's worth noting that a record number of Ukrainians have registered for this year's exam. With over 355,000 candidates signed up, the increased participation underscores the importance of addressing the ongoing technical issues and the stress faced by students. For further insights into this unprecedented turnout and its implications, read more about the surge in registrations.