Govt Scholarship Programme to Help 11,000 Needy Children

Budapest, October 7 (MTI) – Spending a total 1.8 billion forints (EUR 5.9m) on a scholarship scheme, the government will assist 5,500 children in completing their primary education and help the same number through secondary school, a state secretary at the Human Resources Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Karoly Czibere told a press conference that the funds spent on the programme were considered as an investment for the future rather than “grants given out of mercy”. He added that the scheme would be completed with scholarships helping students in vocational training and others in higher education. He said that details of those components would be announced later in October and next month.

Government spokeswoman Eva Kurucz said that under an agreement with the National Roma Self-Government, 50 percent of the scholarships will go to Roma students.

Kurucz said that last year 14,000 students participated in the programme, 54 percent of whom were Roma.

Photo: MTI – Tamas Kovacs

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