Minority Policy and Educational Rights at Center of Ukrainian Forum

Hungary Today 2024.12.04.

A two-day forum titled “Protecting the Common Home – Forum of the Hungarian National Minority (Community) of Ukraine” gathered key stakeholders to address the future of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine. Discussions centered around minority policy reforms, cultural preservation, and educational rights, underscoring the complex socio-political landscape faced by Hungarians in Ukraine, writes ma7.sk.

Viktor Yelensky, Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, emphasized that Ukraine’s commitment to minority rights is deeply rooted in its struggle for independence. This sentiment was echoed by Oleh Nemchinov, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, who noted that Ukrainian legislation incorporates best practices from Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Hungary’s Acting Consul General in Uzhhorod (Ungvár), László Vida, highlighted

Hungary’s substantial humanitarian support for Ukraine since the Russian invasion, amounting to over EUR 170 million.

He acknowledged recent legal reforms in December 2023, as a step forward but stressed that many issues remain unresolved. Negotiations between Ukrainian authorities and Hungarian minority representatives are crucial to achieving solutions that meet the community’s needs.

One Billion Euro Hungarian-Ukrainian Border Development Plan Announced

Hungary and Ukraine signed the first memorandum on the development of the border section in 2013.Continue reading

The forum also highlighted challenges in minority media. Zoltán Kulin, CEO of TV21 Ungvár, pointed out the complex regulatory landscape for media in Ukraine. He noted that conflicting laws and the absence of essential infrastructure, such as transmission towers in the Berehove region, hinder access to information for the Hungarian-speaking population.

Education was another focal point during the meeting. László Zubánics, President of the Hungarian Democratic Alliance in Ukraine, criticized the exclusion of national-cultural autonomy from legislation. This issue, he suggested, will be crucial in Ukraine’s EU accession discussions. István Csernicskó, Rector of the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education, emphasized that

education has faced significant challenges since the adoption of the 2017 Ukrainian Education Law, marking a turning point for Hungarian-language education.

Fact

The 2017 Ukrainian Education Law imposed significant restrictions on the rights of Hungarian minorities, particularly in the Transcarpathian region. The law required that Ukrainian be the sole language of instruction beyond the fifth grade, limiting the ability of ethnic Hungarians to receive education in their native language. This move, part of broader nationalistic reforms aimed at reducing Russian influence, sparked protests from Hungary and its Hungarian-speaking community in Ukraine. In response to international pressure, Ukraine amended the law in 2023, to restore some minority language rights, although Hungary remains critical of the full implementation of these changes.

Ildikó Orosz, President of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association, addressed the need for improvements in educational resources, including textbooks and dictionaries. Sándor Spenik from the Ukrainian-Hungarian Educational and Scientific Institute reinforced the importance of educational autonomy for preserving cultural identity.

The forum concluded with visits to key cultural and educational institutions, including the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education and the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia.

Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education Photo: Wikipedia/Tatiana Pantylei

Transcarpathian Organizations Protest against Education Law Amendment in Ukraine

If the amendment is adopted, the language of minorities, including Hungarian, could only be used in classrooms.Continue reading

Via ma7.sk; Featured image via Facebook/KMKSZ – Kárpátaljai Magyar Kulturális Szövetség