Is the Hungarian education system poisoning our future?

Hvg.hu reports that schoolchildren of Hungary cannot wait for the experts to finally work out the best National Core Curriculum (NAT) to solve the long-standing problem of the country’s education system.

It has already been officially acknowledged that the current Hungarian education system is harmful. The assigned Commissioner also admitted to the problem against which educationalists have previously raised up their voice. But given that the government turned a blind eye to their claim, they went as far as taking the matter to the streets. Educational researchers and a complete civil platform, composed of the collaboration of more than 50 organisations, have been fighting for years to put an end to the future-harming Hungarian education system. It may seem that their efforts were not in vain, as the problem was recognised at the place from which it stems.

Consequently, it seem that a change is under way. Or, in fact, not. It came to light that, firstly, a research institution will be set up to work out the solution to the problem. Then, they are going to do research on the problem and figure out the solution. It all seems good, but, meanwhile, what about the schoolchildren who are forced into this harmful system day by day? Indeed, this can be stated without further research.

On what research results was the running amok of Rózsa Hoffman, the Secretary of State for Public Education in Hungary, based?

Instead of the KLIKK (namely the Hungarian Klebelsberg Institution Maintenance Centre) and the bad National Core Curriculum, designed in 2012, it would have been worthwhile to found a research institution.

But the billions, sent by the EU for the renewal of the education system, were dissipated and now, when it comes to putting an end to the national dullness and the daily suffering of our kids, do we have the time to carry out research? There is nothing to wait for; we need to make some change with the help of the knowledge that we possess.

In case it comes to light that a babyfood is toxic, do we continue to nourish our children with it until we figure out something better? Of course not; we throw it out immediately because anything that has been tested or lived up to our expectations is a better solution than the thing that is known to be harmful.

If an education system comes to question?

The kids cannot wait until the experts fiddle with the development of the best National Core Curriculum.

We need to use what we have until something magical happens.

The solutions seems like the Kockás book and its summarized version, the Kockás booklet (solutions designed by the Hungarian Civil Public Education Platform) were development is based on international and national research. The Civil Public Education Platform summed up and enumerated the immediate steps that have to be taken to avoid further troubles and adressed the governance of education. Thus, “plan A” really exists and that is a public good.

Several years ago, Benő Csapó, Péter Fóti, Judit Lannert, István Nahalka, Péter Radó and other internationally recognized experts have already written down some solutions to which they gave their voice. In fact, it is true that it is not a Hungarikum, a thing of typically Hungarian attribute, as it is used by other countries, too, where it works well and is effective. Still, for us, to save what we still can, this is perfect.

As a matter of fact, there are kids who have to study for years in this dull education system from which the only thing that they have acquired is that studying is awful.

They are surely the losers of the future and the more we expose them to the harmful public education, the more schoolchildren would be affected. The indictment against the education policy of the country has already been born but it is still the teachers and the students who suffer.

However, there is an immediataly executable solution for the cessation of the hazard, as hvg.hu points out: “that is leaving our children and the teachers in peace.”

If this system would do nothing else just take a bit back and let the teachers deal with the students, the situation could immediately ameliorate in the short run. The majority of teachers possess the expertise to adjust their teaching method to their students and make it effective.

In a supportive, autonomous and intellectual society of teachers, the expertise of teaching is given. Furthermore, teachers would be capable of solving the tasks if they were not bound to such an extent that they are even unable to think. And if the governance of education does not help them with appropriate training, teachers progress with self-education.

Just let them in peace.

The assigned Commissioner would like that, by the time her grandchildren reach school-age, the education system would be satisfactory. It is a praiseworthy endeavour. However, the grandchildren and the children of many of us already sit in school desks and they cannot wait for the scientifically perfect education system based on the new research results. They should be saved now from the harmful education system that was made without common sense and scientific background.

What hvg.hu suggests is a moratorium. Until there is no officially and widely accepted system of public education, let the teachers teach by their own knowledge and conscience instead of the failed laws existing since 2010. With this step, schools and children alike would be liberated and be more cheerful that would also make their future more prosperous.

translated by Lilla Mezei

Ce: bm

Photo: MTI

Source: hvg.hu