No freedom of choice: Hungarian teachers can only use state-issued textbooks

Teachers in Hungary continue to face limited autonomy: they cannot freely choose which textbooks to use, which in turn affects the quality of education.

Only official textbooks permitted

Ahead of the new school year, several schools informed teachers that they are permitted to use only textbooks from an officially approved list, which consists overwhelmingly of state-published materials. According to a report by Népszava, some administrators cited instructions from the Education Office, and in some cases, teachers were even forbidden from recommending privately published textbooks to parents.

Teachers and unions have long criticised the quality of state-issued textbooks. There have been multiple reports of inaccurate content, questionable interpretations, and ideologically charged language.

While educators have often tried to supplement lessons with materials from alternative publishers, doing so within official frameworks has become increasingly difficult. The Teachers’ Union argues that the new restrictions effectively eliminate professional freedom and pose a risk to the quality of education.

Teachers seek workarounds

In recent years, many educators and parents have purchased alternative textbooks at their own expense, which were better suited to students’ needs. In some cases, state-issued books were distributed in class, but the actual teaching relied on other materials.

“Legally, we’re supposed to teach only from the books on the official list, but there are ‘under-the-radar’ options. For instance, I don’t use textbooks at all—something I’m allowed to do as a teacher. I can prepare with any material I want, make copies, and bring them to class as practice exercises,” a secondary school teacher from Pest County told Népszava.

That window may now be closing as well: several institutions have made it clear that only official textbooks may be used during classroom instruction.

Pros and cons of a centralised textbook market

One of the most frequently cited benefits of the state-controlled system is the free textbook programme. The government provides textbooks at no cost to all students, offering substantial financial relief for families.

For the 2025/2026 school year alone, 13 million textbooks have been ordered, which will reach more than 1.2 million students. Rétvári Bence, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, noted that in the past, a set of textbooks could cost families HUF tens of thousands.

Although a school supply list can still be a costly burden, free textbooks represent a welcome relief for families at the start of the school year. While this programme certainly improves accessibility, it fails to address one of the most debated aspects of the system: the restriction of teachers’ freedom to choose textbooks.

Due to centralised textbook development and distribution, educators are confined to the state-approved list, even if materials from other publishers might better serve their students.

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