Almost every second Ukrainian teenager does not have a basic level of mathematics, which is already affecting students’ future educational and career trajectories, as well as the country’s economy, a press release reports based on the results of a study of learning losses in mathematics prepared by EdEra with the support of the Tokarev Foundation.
According to data from the international PISA-2022 study, 42% of Ukrainian teenagers did not reach the basic level in mathematics, while only 3% showed the highest results. The authors also analyzed NMT mathematics results for 2022–2024 and note that in NMT-2025 in mathematics, 12% of participants did not pass the threshold, and the average result was 132.5 points out of 200. By comparison, in the Ukrainian language and history, the share of those who did not pass the threshold was about 1%.
The study identifies the 6th grade as a critical point when some students’ motivation drops and key topics are not mastered—fractions, percentages, and negative numbers—which later complicates the study of algebra, geometry, and STEM disciplines. A staffing factor is also mentioned separately—the shortage of mathematics, physics, and chemistry teachers, as well as teachers’ need for clearer tools to explain the practical value of the material.
EdEra emphasizes that mathematics is linked not only to test results but also to skills of critical thinking and risk assessment, while the Tokarev Foundation connects mathematical literacy with economic growth and national security amid technological competition.
Following the study, the teams state that they are developing practical educational solutions that should help students close gaps and reduce “mathematics anxiety.”
LEARNING LOSSES, MATHEMATICS, PISA-2022, НМТ-2025
