From research to product: Serhiy Tokarev, founder of the Tokarev Foundation, has announced the launch of BigMat, a free maths platform
The Ukrainian online education studio EdEra, with the support of the Tokarev Foundation, has developed a pilot version of the digital product BigMat for school pupils. It provides simple explanations of complex mathematical topics. The educational platform will have interactive exercises, real-life illustrations supplemented with practice activities to help pupils independently fill gaps in their knowledge. In addition, the platform will benefit teachers and parents by providing teaching materials and guidance. This was announced by Serhiy Tokarev, founder of the Tokarev Foundation.
Why we need platforms like BigMat
This digital product was developed based on research into educational gaps among Ukrainian schoolchildren. According to NMT-2025 data, 12% of school leavers were unable to complete maths tasks at Year 5–6 level. This means one in eight pupils failed to meet the minimum threshold in the test. The causes were determined by EdEra in partnership with the Tokarev Foundation. A study has been conducted that revealed knowledge gaps as early as secondary school.
The researchers found that maths anxiety is a real phenomenon. It is a condition where the learning process itself gets hampered due to the fear of the subject. Consequently, psychological barriers and structural gaps formed the basis of BigMat.
Serhiy Tokarev believes that the current lack of mathematical skills among schoolchildren will lead to Ukraine facing an acute shortage of specialists in the future. As mathematics is the foundation for accessing the tech economy, we may lose our competitive edge in engineering and the development of AI technologies in the future.
Features of the BigMat platform
The main aim of this digital product is to explain abstract mathematical concepts using everyday examples. This will not only help to improve pupils’ basic knowledge at school, but will also help to bridge the gap between those who find the subject easy and those who struggle with it.
The BigMat platform is available free of charge. It will help students master complex topics by linking them to real life, which will significantly simplify the learning process,” says EdEra CEO Illia Filipov.
The platform comprises three components:
- for pupils — an app with interactive levels;
- for teachers — ready-made presentations and lesson plans;
- for parents — recommendations and tips for supporting their children at home.
The product is presently in its MVP development phase. The team has created resources on eight topics relating to fractions, prepared eight school lessons and eight interactive levels. Over 500 teachers have applied to take part in the pilot test.
We will add more topics and lessons too. Moreover, we are also developing guidance for parents that we hope will improve results without using a private tutor,” says Serhiy Tokarev.
