Education system in Hungary

Education and educational policy in the enlarged European Union

14-16th October, 2005.

Education system in Hungary

Education in numbers Traditional studies Non-traditional studies Main trends, challenges and their effect

Education in numbers

10 000 000 citizens 1 400 000 pupils in primary and secondary

education 160 000 teachers 5 500 primary and secondary institutions 400 000 students in higher education

Traditional studies

Five levels of study:

Pre-school Primary school Secondary vocational and technical schools College/university Postgraduate education

Pre-school

The last year of kindergarten is preparation for primary school

Only last year is compulsory

Primary school

Basic education Between ages 6 and 14 After this pupils should choose between the

different types of secondary schools Education is compulsory for 12 years

Vocational schools

Skilled workers Pupils start work immediately after school The professional orientation starts 9th and

10th grade Technical training starts in 11th grade

Professional subjects Factories School work-shops

Vocational schools

No secondary school leaving certificate The level of vocational qualification is lower

than in vocational secondary schools

General secondary school

Preparation for university or college 4-year-long School leaving certificate 5-year-long secondary schools - subjects

taught in two languages Big differences between them

Vocational secondary school

General education, learn profession General subjects – 9th – 12th grade Vocational orientation starts in 9th grade Theoretical and practical basics – from 11th

grade on Real technical training starts after getting the

school leaving certificate

University and college

Mainly state institutions Churches Private colleges

Many of them merged in the middle of 90’s, the number of them decreased

The number of training possibilities increased significantly

Two semesters – autumn and spring

University and college

State-funded students Foreigners need to pay tuition fee No age limit for applications Applicants need to have a school leaving

certification

Universities and colleges

Three types of degree: Bachelor degree – 3-5 years – colleges Master degree – 4-5 years – universities, medical

universities: 6 Doctoral degree, Ph.D., DLA – 3 years

Other forms of higher educationDegrees awarded are equivalent to those granted to full-time

students Evening or correspondence courses Run by higher education institutions Distance education Organized at universities and colleges

Post-secondary, non-tertiary studies Higher vocational training is introduced in the

beginning of 90’s Short-cycle post-secondary course 2-3 year programmes at universities and colleges In collaboration with secondary vocational schools Not a degree course,vocational certificate

Main trends and changes since the early 90’s Decreasing number of pupils Economic and social changes at the

beginning of the 90’s Demand for highly qualified ppl increased Demand for continuous learning and

development IT skills and digital literacy are crucial

Impact

The education system had been restructured 6 and 8 year long secondary schools appeared,

and started to spread quickl law regulations stopped their spreading at the end

of 90’s More pupils applied for vocational secondary

schools

Impact

The number of university/college places started to raise in the beginning of 90’s More pupils wanted to apply for university or

college Computer and foreign language skills are in

focus