Forthcoming policy developments

The government considers modernising the public education system and the increasing its efficiency a key priority. Therefore, it emphasises professional and methodological support for teachers, ensuring safe working conditions for both teachers and students, and preventing and reducing school violence, which, beyond individual development, also contributes to the effective operation of educational institutions.

Especially in the field of vocational education the main focus areas are to increase the involvement of young people in vocational education through personalised career guidance, to strengthen the cooperation of institutions to prevent and reduce dropout rates and to supporting lifelong learning.

The government amended the higher education law and created a new structure for doctoral training. Under this framework, a three-pillar doctoral education system will be introduced. In addition to the traditional program divided into formal coursework and individual research, a cooperative program will appear, in which doctoral candidates simultaneously work at a university, hospital, or development company while pursuing their doctoral studies. The third form is a research excellence programme, in which doctoral students may join research projects led by a Hungarian researcher. Within the framework of the National Research Excellence Program, supported by an increased budget, 300–350 new research excellence doctoral positions will be created in the coming period. The aim is to support the next generation of scientific researchers. The monthly income of doctoral students will increase: those participating in the cooperative program will receive a state scholarship of a net HUF 250 000 per month (about EUR 655), in addition to income from their workplace, while participants in the research excellence programme can expect a gross monthly income of at least HUF 600 000 (about EUR 1 500).

Ongoing debates

There are no ongoing debates that relates to education.