External independent assessment requires students to learn the material, but does not allow them to analyze the information presented. This was stated by the Minister of Education and Science, Liliya Hrynevych, in an interview with Economic Information.

"ZNO is a mirror of the Ukrainian school, which today does not require complex thinking. It requires memorizing the material and there is not even time for the student to analyze the information provided, question it or find arguments in its favor. And this is exactly what we have to change in our school. That is, our task is to teach children to think: starting with media literacy (because we live in times of hybrid war) and ending with solving complex problems and practical life tasks," the minister said.

According to her, students should not hide from challenges, but be able to solve them. And this is what the school should teach.

"Therefore, when we talk about the concept of the New Ukrainian School, which is based on the competences of the 21st century. - this is exactly what we mean. There is only one problem: there is a long way to full implementation of the reform, and children need to update their education now," said the minister.

She reminded that the Ministry of Education has already revised the programs for grades 5-9 with elements of introducing competence training and in August they, as well as additional materials, will be presented to teachers.