Making the most of the system
Listening to others
Parents and teachers agree that pre-school education in Hungary is
very good, and believe that primary and high school studies should be
strong enough for students to gain entry to college or university
without having to pass a separate entrance exam.
“Parents want a sense of security that their children
will attend schools well-equipped to satisfy the challenges awaiting
them at higher education institutes,” Bálint Magyar, Minister of Education, told The Budapest Sun.
“That is why the Ministry of Education (OM) is working to introduce a
dual high school graduation (érettségi) program and at the same time
abolish the university entrance exam system.”
“Students should be accepted into higher education institutions based
on their marks and achievements in high school.”
“To grasp this, children require a proper study program in the lower
levels,” he said.
Magyar went on to explain that schools should also teach children
independence and quick thinking. Hungarian education does not have too much to boast about when it
comes to learning languages,
Magyar said, adding that parents now realize that if a child is not
computer literate and doesn't speak at least one other European language
then they could easily become second-class citizens once Hungary joins
the European Union. “We plan radical changes in this area and have
already announced our so-called 'World Language' program,” said Magyar.
From September 2004 high schools will be allowed to implement the
so-called 'zero year', where students will spend 40% of their time learning a foreign language before
actually proceeding with secondary education.
Using this system, students, by the age of 15, should be capable of
mastering at least one foreign language at an intermediate level more
intensively. By the time they reach higher education they should be able
to speak at least one other European language, if not two. “Here, were
are talking about Hungarians not just surviving in the EU but also in
their own homeland, because job opportunities require foreign language
knowledge.” Magyar said.
Based on an opinion poll carried out by the Double Decker Group, the
majority of Hungarian parents surveyed said that the national education
system should address problems starting at primary school level.
“The biggest problem, according to parents, is that
children are overloaded with studies and homework and that their basic
education lacks the fundamentals,” Magyar said.
“The survey showed that primary school oppresses
playfulness while using complicated and systematic teaching methods.”
Magyar explained that the poll also indicated that in secondary
schools the biggest fear for parents is drugs. “This is an extremely difficult problem and must be tackled
immediately,” he said. “That is why the OM has joined forces with the Ministry of Children,
Youth and Sports(GYISM) and at the start of the school year (in
September) we will hand out a special booklet to raise students'
awareness and hopefully stop them from taking drugs.”
Most of the problems addressed by parents in the opinion poll echoed
answers provided in the PISA report — a survey taken every three years
to review the knowledge and skills of the average 15-year-old in
developed nations.
The PISA 2000 report indicated that the average Hungarian student
leaving primary school lacked the necessary literacy skills. “While the
majority of teachers know about the PISA report, very few parents have
actually heard about it,” Magyar said, adding that such reports should
also be given to parents.
According to Magyar, the OM is concerned about how parents would
receive and react, let alone support, much needed reforms in the public
education system. “In some cases new reforms cause uncertainty and skepticism,
despite the fact that they may be backed by international models.” However, Magyar said that parents concerned about their children have
shown interest in the new reform ideas. “About 25% of parents and
teachers expressed their readiness to stand by the OM implementing
comprehensive reforms.”
“In total about 83% of teachers and 66% of parents
have signalled the need for reform. While 92% of teachers have heard
about the OM's plans for reform in the public education system, only 50%
of parents have heard about it,”Magyar said.
Over the past decade the number of students participating in higher
education has increased dramatically. September will see the general introduction of the so-called 'credit
system' at higher education institutions nationwide, which will allow students to move freely within the
education system based on accumulated points earned from their studies.
“This is a necessary requirement for student mobility and in the
various forms of higher education,” said Magyar.
Another part of higher education reform will be to join the EU higher
education program, where restructuring is aimed at targeting the dual university-college system. Magyar said the bottom line is that this model, almost like a
pyramid, would be built on Bachelor, Masters and PhD qualifications alongside other higher education accredited
training courses. Another point of reform is to separate the economic and academic
leadership of universities to enable higher education institutes to follow market demands.
The changes also include plans to improve job opportunities for
students at higher education institutes. “Students would be able to
participate in the various services offered within the university, from
the library and canteen to laboratory work and even accounting,” Magyar
said.
The public education reforms, Magyar added, will enable students to
acquire practical knowledge, lifelong learning skills and at the same time increase their chances of equal
opportunities in today's society.
By Tamás S Kiss
21 August 2003
http://www.budapestsun.com/full_story.asp?ArticleId={52407EE03B4242AB9EEC9A5DB2633F84}&From=Business
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