Hungarian teachers flee their jobs! – Wages are outrageously low

The situation of teachers in Hungary continues to worsen. They are likely to strike, and many of them have straight up left their profession because of low income, not to mention that many of them can only make a living thanks to their partners.

Even though the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources said a couple of days ago that there is no labour shortage in the educational sector, the latest data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office implies the opposite, 444 wrote.

The problem has multiple layers, and the reality is that it will take several years to solve it at its roots. One of the main issues is that the wage of educators and teachers in Hungary is very low. The root of this problem is that their salary is set taking into account the minimum wage of the year 2014. But this adds up.

Nowadays, they lose hundreds of thousands of forints (~ €300) every month, and in the past few years, they lost approximately 3-5 million forints (€ 8,630-14,383) each year because of this.

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Some of the other reasons for the labour shortage in the sector include unpaid overtime, overworking, centralised decisions, and a complex issue that comes from all of the above: the fact that the new generation of teachers lacks in number. The combination of the mentioned issues has made the teacher’s and educator’s profession very unpopular, says Portfolio.

Unoccupied positions in the education sector
Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office

According to the latest findings of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, there were a total of 6,600 unoccupied positions in the education sector all around Hungary in the second quarter of 2021.

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Compared to last year’s data of the same period, the number of unoccupied positions has increased by 38%, suggesting that the problem is escalating.

This level of labour shortage poses great risks. In some places, there are not enough teachers to properly prepare students for high school graduation from certain, optional subjects (Mathematics, Hungarian, and History are mandatory). In other places, there are no Chemistry teachers, and schools have to employ freelancers to teach the subject to children, Portfolio reports.

In many elementary schools, it is almost normal practice to pool together classes during daycare as there are not enough educators, and if a teacher gets ill or is incapable to work for any time, it puts schools into difficult situations. Despite these reports, the government says that there are fewer children per teacher than before.

Source: KSH, Portfolio.hu, 444.hu

One comment

  1. This topic is becoming quite a regular in articles published by DNH.
    I accept there is a PROBLEM – and it needs urgent attention that indicates acknowledgement by the Government that it knows of the PROBLEM – and is prepared to “come to the table” – lisen and contribute to ensuring it does not WORSEN.
    HUNGARY – statistically speaking – Fact – declining population numbers – deaths per year greater than new born babies – ageing population – younger generation of Hungarians – from “all stations” in life – leaving Hungary for reasons – not solely job security nor low income or lack of career opportunities.
    Hungary – only by acceptance of the past – can it be ALTERED.
    Could it be the widening of Social Inequality that continues in Hungary ?
    Teaching or Roles in Education / Academia – is a Vocation.
    Like the Holy Roman Catholic Church – drop outs of Seminarians or those who enter into Religious Life – there is a High Drop out Percentage – for Reasons.
    This “vocation” – life in Education – a service to the youth and wider – to people of all ages – with Dedication and Integrity.
    “Like a Forest
    that Quietly Grows.”
    Education – for the “little ones” in there formulative years is of Paramount Importance.
    Education – it’s Purpose is to turn Mirrows – into Windows.
    Education – should be a Lifelong process, the formal period – serving as the Foundation – on which Life’s structure may rest and lie.
    Government – must remain at all times pro-active – to ensure the situation of Education across its Responsibilities – is a PRIORITY.
    The future – not just for Students – but for a Country – is reflected in great part by the Standards of its Education.
    Educators – those who accept it is a Vocation – should be renemerated to salary levels that are deserving of what they CONTRIBUTE to the youth or people of all ages – and to a Country – its FUTURE – through there Roles as Educators.
    The years that I spent in University environments – rising to Professorship – the simple answer to a question once asked of me – what did I learn at University – my answer – It taught me to THINK.
    Education – governments need to make it EXCITING – offering opportunities from the pursing of Education – meaning to occupy a position that recognizes it – by the Citizens and Students and Educators – as being “Hands On” – open door with ALL Educational Institutions and Authority.
    EDUCATION – is for – ALL.
    No one can become really educated without having pursued some Study in which he took no interest – for it is apart of Education – to learn to Interest ourselves in subjects for which we have no aptitude.
    Education – creats – OPPORTUNITIES – Opens Windows – and teaches us to – THINK.
    Government of Hungary – give ground on this growing concerning problem – you are Faced with.
    If parties do not meet in a “balanced position” – the loser will be Hungary.

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