Demonstration held in the heart of Budapest for Hungarian teachers
A demonstration organised by civil groups and trade unions was held for changes in Hungarian public education at the square in front of Parliament on Friday evening, on the first day of the school year.
At the event at Kossuth Square, representatives of the United Student Front (EDF), the Civil Basis and the Democratic Trade Union of Teachers (PDSZ) cited “serious problems” in Hungarian public education and called for an education policy reform which they said required a cooperation of civil groups and trade unions.
A representative of EDF called for a new national curriculum to create opportunities for students across the board and for abolishing central control over teachers.
Civil servants union MKKSZ leader Erzsébet Boros urged civil groups and trade unions to join forces and press for collective rights and a “real strike law”.
PDSZ deputy president Tünde Tóth called for immediate measures to remedy the shortage of teachers.
The participating organisations announced a joint solidarity platform dubbed National Common Will (OKA) which demanded a 50 percent immediate payrise for teachers and retaining their right to strike, reforming the national curriculum and scrapping the new law on teachers’ status.
The event was held in preparation for a nationwide demonstration planned for September 15.
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The teachers, I believe, have signed an agreement. It is time for them to work on the curriculum and concentrate on doing the best job they can educating the pupils.
On their own time, teachers have the full right to protest, that is part of normal democracy. Teachers do not need to work on their curriculum on their spare time. If protests don’t help, agreements can, and will be terminated. Many have done so already. Why would teachers do their best to educate pupils when thrir employer does the bare minimum for the teachers?
Its really worrying that the government doesn’t care about the education and the future of the nation’s youth.
Through total lack over 14 years in Government, the Victor Orban led Government of Hungary, has ignored the IMPORTANCE of INVESTMENT into Education in Hungary.
Educators – the “Vocation” they make, the commitment of responsibility they undertake, have been given no RESPECT, for the role they play, that is, the preparation of the youth of Hungary – for there future lives, that to is a “windfall for Hungary.
Orban – his Government, its inability to have PRIORITIZED placing positioning EDUCATION over vastness of “other” projects funding from the European Union has been used for, is ASTOUNDING.
Education in Hungary, especially Educators has been over years tolerant with Orban.
Educators & Education – have endured HUGH un-explainable numbers of Broken Promises from the Orban led Government.
Orban – his Government must NEVER be allowed to RUN have complete say in the overall EDUCATION system in Hungary – NEVER.
If this was PERMITTED – it would act, as another on the list of CONTROL this Orban Government has over – Media, the Judiciary and its ability to Rule by Decree.
Orban and his Government, have dismally FAILED to embrace in Hungary – in Education of Hungary, all its componentry, inclusive of course Educators, a “core” of DEMOCRACY and that is Dialogue.
Investment, a Governments responsibility in office, to its citizens, students, educators, families – the use of there taxes to be INVESTED into the FUTURE of Hungary – into the Education system.
Orban & his Government have FAILED us resulting in the cataclysmic MESS that still is the Education “scene” in Hungary.
The Purpose of EDUCATION – is to Turn Mirrors into Windows.