Artificial intelligence to become a school subject in Hungary, but everybody’s concerned

From the second half of the academic year, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a standalone subject for all ninth-grade students in Hungary’s vocational schools.

Artificial intelligence in schools? From February?

The move is a big leap in the government’s long-term digital education strategy, but it has sparked criticism from teachers’ unions and education experts as well, who warn that schools and educators may not be prepared for such a rapid transition.

The use of AI in education is hardly new. Many Hungarian teachers already report that students rely on tools such as ChatGPT when completing homework or writing essays. As a result, traditional assessment methods are increasingly under pressure, forcing educators to rethink how student performance can be measured fairly in the age of generative AI.

The introduction of artificial intelligence as an institutionalised subject raises some important questions: how will formal AI education affect students’ and teachers’ attitudes towards these tools, and how ready is the Hungarian school system for such a huge shift?

A nationwide rollout by the end 2026

As Telex reported, the government’s plans extend well beyond vocational education. In October last year, government commissioner for artificial intelligence László Palkovics announced that AI education would become part of the standard national curriculum from February 2026.

Rather than developing new teaching materials, the government has partnered with Logiscool, a Hungarian education company that already runs AI-related courses both domestically and abroad. The agreement includes access to teaching platforms and teacher training programmes.

A pilot project was launched last autumn in 60 Hungarian and three foreign vocational schools, involving around 1,700 students and 100 specially trained teachers. The ten-hour subject, titled Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence, was integrated into schools’ professional programmes via Hungary’s KRÉTA digital education system. According to the Energy Ministry, the course will be available to all ninth-grade vocational students nationwide from the second semester.

A government decree published in November confirms that this is only the beginning: all other Hungarian schools must introduce AI education by 31 December 2026. The stated aim is to help students understand how artificial intelligence works, recognise its risks and use it as a tool for learning and independent problem-solving. The government also argues that AI education is essential for developing critical thinking skills and for recognising manipulated or misleading information.

Teachers still finding their footing

Despite these ambitions, many educators feel uncertain. According to Balázs Koren, professional director of the ProSuli programme and a participant in the pilot project, AI is already having a greater impact on education than any previous technological innovation, including laptops or interactive whiteboards.