Lubinets asks the government to amend the NMT procedure after complaints from applicants - the Ministry of Education and Science responded
Kyiv • UNN
Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets appealed to the government with a proposal to lower the minimum competitive score of the NMT from 150 to 130 due to complaints from applicants. The Ministry of Education and Science opposed, emphasizing the need for professional assessment and the inadmissibility of situational decisions.
Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets has appealed to the government and the Ministry of Education and Science with a proposal to revise the approaches to conducting the NMT, in particular to consider the possibility of lowering the minimum competitive score from 150 to 130. The Ministry of Education and Science stated that they are against such an initiative, reports UNN with reference to the department's press service.
Details
"The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has received a submission from the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights. The issues raised require professional assessment – from the Ministry, the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment, higher education institutions, and other responsible bodies, depending on the content of the appeal. The position of the Ministry of Education and Science is consistent and specific: we must support entrants in the difficult conditions of war, respond to specific organizational problems, and guarantee an additional session for those who have grounds for it. But the admission campaign cannot be guided by situational decisions without proper analysis of the consequences," the statement reads.
The ministry noted that they understand the conditions under which graduates have been taking the NMT for the fifth year of the full-scale invasion.
"Air raid alerts, evacuations, prolonged stays in shelters – all of this creates an additional burden on children, their parents, and exam center teams. That is why for participants who, for objective reasons, were unable to complete or take the test during the main session, participation in an additional session is provided. The increased minimum requirements (a competitive score level of only 150 even for contract places) for certain specialties were introduced gradually and are not a decision specifically for 2026," the Ministry of Education and Science emphasized.
The department reminded that for medical specialties, this logic is related to the requirements for the quality of training of specialists, on whom the life and health of all Ukrainians will depend.
For law, international law, public administration, international relations, and certain economic specializations, these are areas where the state supports a sufficient level of academic preparation for entrants, as these fields are directly related to citizens' rights, management decisions, Ukraine's international representation, and the work of state institutions.
"Some of the specialties for which proposals to revise the minimum competitive score are being made traditionally have high demand among entrants. Therefore, changing the threshold will affect not only the admission conditions but also the quality of competitive selection and trust in the campaign rules. For reference: in 2025, the average competitive score for admission to state-funded places in specialty C3 International Relations was 174.34, and for C2 Political Science – 172.89. At the same time, decisions to change admission rules must be made within the framework of the procedure and with an assessment of the consequences for the entire admission campaign. The Procedure for Admission to Study for Higher Education in 2026 was formed in advance, underwent discussions involving representatives of higher education institutions, professional circles, and other stakeholders. Based on it, educational institutions have already approved their own admission rules, the operation of electronic systems has been configured, and entrants are planning their educational trajectories," the ministry stated.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and Science emphasized that it is important to distinguish between the NMT result, the competitive score, and the passing score. In the public discussion, the formula "NMT passing score 150" is often heard, but when it comes to admission, it refers to the minimum value of the competitive score for participation in competitive selection for certain specialties. The competitive score is calculated according to a defined formula, taking into account the NMT results and coefficients for the relevant specialty.
Addition
Today, the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported that he has appealed to the government and the Ministry of Education and Science with a proposal to lower the threshold score for competitive selection from 150 to 130.
He explained his decision by the fact that students have to take the NMT, in particular, under conditions of air raid alerts.
"Air raid alerts, hours-long stays in shelters, technical failures, and the lack of a real right to appeal incorrectly formulated tasks – these are the conditions under which Ukrainian children are taking the NMT this year. In fact, every test can be interrupted by sirens, every hour is under threat of evacuation, and the results are influenced by circumstances that have nothing to do with knowledge. And this is no longer just about an exam. This is about unequal conditions for admission and enormous stress for thousands of graduates across the country," Lubinets reported.
According to him, in June 2026 alone, he received 21 complaints about problems during the NMT.
"But I understand that this is really just the tip of the iceberg. That is why I demand clear decisions from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science. I have already sent letters with proposals: to take into account the conditions of preparation and taking the NMT in 2026, which negatively affect test results, and the position of rectors regarding the feasibility of lowering the threshold score for competitive selection from 150 to 130. (...) To restore the right to appeal incorrect test tasks and ensure the publication of tests and correct answers after the completion of the NMT. To regulate the taking of the NMT by children who are in places of detention. They have the right to education guaranteed by the Constitution and cannot be deprived of the opportunity to enter a higher education institution due to gaps in regulatory framework and a lack of managerial decisions," Lubinets added.
Recall
In one of the examination centers in the Odesa region, NMT participants spent almost 13 hours in a shelter due to air raid alerts. In addition, according to graduates, during all this time they were not provided with access to water and food.