The proportion of Hungarian-language learners has declined less than the proportion of the Hungarian population in Transylvania.Continue reading
In Romania, the teaching of the Romanian language according to a specific syllabus for Hungarian-language classes has been effective, and consultations with teachers are underway on how to make it even more effective, the executive vice-president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) said.
Katalin Mihályfalvi, in an interview published on the Transylvanian Hungarian news portal Transtelex, said that Hungarian eighth-grade students’ results in Romanian language and literature exams have been improving steadily, if not visibly, since 2018. According to the statistics, in 2018, 53 % of Hungarian students achieved a grade above the pass mark in Romanian public education, while in 2022, almost 60 % of them achieved it.
Regarding new, innovative academic programs and methods, she noted that
a generation has to grow up to see its effectiveness and to measure it in terms of results. Change does not happen immediately.”
When asked by a reporter, the former biology teacher from Cluj (Kolozsvár), who was elected in September, confirmed that the new Romanian education law allows funding programs to help Hungarian students learn Romanian, but the methodology still needs to be developed. She said that the Education Department of the RMDSZ is also planning Romanian camps and exchange programs to help Hungarian students.
On the topic of education in dispersed areas, Ms. Mihályfalvi told that compared to 20 years ago, there were far fewer places where “simultaneous education” took place. This method involves grouping pupils from different grades together in a single class.
Partly, this is due to the creation of many dispersed-student homes and partly to various support programs such as school bus services.”
The politician stated that in the past, it was possible to apply for funding to support students who commuted, but in many cases, there were no vehicles available for transportation. “In comparison, there has been a huge improvement because in many places, the problem of school buses has been solved either with Hungarian government support or through the Rákóczi Association’s program.”
Via MTI; Featured Image: Facebook / Iskola Alapítvány