Fidesz promises free textbooks in primary schools from 2017

Budapest, August 30 (MTI) – Free textbooks will be available to all primary school pupils as a basic right from 2017, spokeswoman of the ruling Fidesz group Monika Dunai said on Sunday.

Dunai told public news channel M1 that more than half of Hungary’s 1.2 million primary and secondary school students will receive free textbooks in the school year starting this September already.

Two years ago, the government started a scheme to make free textbook available to an increasing number of students and this year even those that have to pay for their textbooks will spend 35 percent less than in 2013, Dunai said.

The government is also planning to expand the availability of free school meals to ensure that only 10pc of students, from the wealthiest families, will have to pay for meals.

Under new regulations entering force this September, 90 percent of children in pre-schools and kindergartens are eligible for free meals as against 27 percent at present.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters