The number of hours for studying mathematics and natural sciences in Ukrainian schools is less than the average for OECD countries (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), which is one of the reasons for the low success of students in mathematics.

Minister of Education and Science Hanna Novosad said this in an interview with Radio NV.

According to her, there is a direct connection between hours of study in mathematics and success in this subject.

"Our number of hours for studying both mathematics and natural sciences is less than the average for OECD countries - by two hours, if I'm not mistaken," Novosad emphasized.

The minister named the ineffective structure of educational programs as the second reason for the low success rate.

"The problem is how our educational programs are structured, how much material we try to cram in, and whether our students actually have time to master all the topics that they begin in basic school from the fifth to the eleventh grade," she explained.

Also, according to the official, the socio-economic status of students has an "extremely greater" influence on academic performance.

As you know, according to the results of PISA-2018, 36% of Ukrainian 15-year-olds did not reach the basic level of mathematical competence.