Commission Report 2002 (Hungary)

• Progress since the last Regular Report
• Overall assessment
• Conclusion

Chapter 18: Education and training

Progress since the last Regular Report

Some further progress has been made in this area over the past year.

During the reference period, Hungary continued to participate in the second generation of the Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates and Youth Community programmes (see section A.b - Relations between the European Union and Hungary).

Regarding the Directive concerning education of children of migrant workers, the Ministry of Education launched a comprehensive programme with the aim of fully implementing the Directive. Within the framework of a national research project, a survey on migrant workers was completed in December 2001. Also, the Government undertook a number of actions in the reporting period in this sector with a view to increasing the level of education of socially disadvantaged children, with special emphasis on improving the integration of the Roma minority into society. Furthermore, in June 2002, a special Ministerial Commissioner in charge of matters relating to Roma and disadvantaged young people has been appointed by the Ministry of Education.

Some further progress has been made in the reform of the Hungarian education and training system. The Act on the entering and residence of foreigners, aimed at fully transposing and implementing the Directive on the right of residence for students, entered into force in January 2002 (see Chapter 2 - Free movement of persons).

The Act on Adult Education was approved by Parliament in December 2001, including implementing legislation. Based on the concept of lifelong learning, the new law takes into account the relevant experience of the EU countries and the recommendations and proposals of recent EU education policy documents. The main objectives of the new framework legislation are: the creation of opportunities for every citizen to receive continuous training and education, the introduction on a wide scale of the use of the most advanced training programmes and methods, and the improvement of quality control procedures.

In addition, the ``teacher`s career model'', which was drawn up in November 2001, states that the average net income of teachers per capita should reach 125% of the national average salary per capita by 2006 at the latest.

Overall assessment

Hungary has created the necessary financial and institutional conditions for effective participation in the relevant Community Programmes. Participation in the Community Socrates, Youth and Leonardo da Vinci programmes is satisfactory, and the existing national agencies are operational.

As regards the Directive concerning education of children of migrant workers, the Hungarian regulations in force are already in line with the acquis, and implementation is under way.

Legislation for vocational education and training systems is also in place, including the regulation governing the organisation, management and financing of vocational education and training.

The Ministry of Education has the overall responsibility for the sector of education and vocational training. The Ministry has a key role to play in the development of human resources, which has been identified as a major element of the strategy enabling Hungary to face successfully the economic, social and cultural challenges of the 21st century.

Conclusion

In its 1997 Opinion, the Commission concluded that, in the perspective of accession, no major problems were expected in this field for Hungary.

Since the Opinion, Hungary has achieved steady progress, including with regard to its participation in relevant Community programmes. Hungary`s preparations for accession are now at an advanced level.

Negotiations on this chapter have been provisionally closed. Hungary has not requested any transitional arrangements in this field. Hungary is generally meeting the commitments it has made in the accession negotiations in this domain.

In order to complete preparations for membership, Hungary's efforts now need to focus on further developing its administrative capacity in this domain.

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