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As Hitler prescribed? Debunking political analyst Belyaev’s fake about Ukrainian education reform
He claimed that schoolchildren in Ukraine would no longer study physics or math.
Political analyst Alexey Belyaev reviewed the Ukrainian school reform plans and concluded that they would deny young people access to quality education — “no physics, no math.” The Weekly Top Fake team examined what the guest on Belarus’s Radio-Minsk YouTube channel either got wrong or chose to leave out.
Ukraine’s education system came up during the July 30, 2025 edition of Evening Political Channel. Alexey Belyaev, dean of the journalism department at Belarusian State University and a political analyst, claimed that Ukraine has dumbed down its youth and explained why.
“If you, Vadim Alekseyevich (Vadim Yelfimov, host of Evening Political Channel — ed.), read modern Ukrainian textbooks and the plans to overhaul school education in general: no physics, no math. There you go. Some kind of Hitler’s dream. I remember how he told his comrades that Slavs didn’t need a good education — four years of schooling was enough so they could read, write, and sign their names. That’s it. And give them more songs, music, and dancing — that’s really all they need.”
WTF reporters found that Ukraine does plan to make physics an optional subject, but only starting in 10th grade. In other words, all students will study it from 7th through 9th grade. This is one of the provisions of an education reform set to begin in Ukraine in 2027. In addition, schools will switch to a 12-year system.
The reform will let Ukrainian students choose some subjects themselves: from 10th to 12th grade, education in Ukraine will be specialized. Seven subjects will remain mandatory for all students: Ukrainian and English, history and literature, physical education, defense of Ukraine, and math — the subject Belyaev left out. All other courses will depend on the student’s chosen track.
