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The number of students studying in Hungarian in Transylvania for the 2024-2025 school year is expected to reach around 150,000, according to Zoltán Kallós, Romania’s Secretary of State for Minority Education.
While the exact numbers are not yet finalized, Mr. Kallós anticipates no decline in future years. One of the main tasks for the school year, he noted, is to ensure that Romanian is taught to all minority students according to a special curriculum tailored for them. This, he believes, is crucial in helping young people remain in their homeland and succeed.
The Secretary of State emphasized that it is essential for the rights of minority-language education, as stated in Romanian law, to be upheld at local levels.
Although the law grants favorable conditions for minority education, these rights are often not respected in counties or individual schools. He encouraged those facing challenges to escalate issues to the county education inspectorate if local solutions are not found. He also stressed the importance of appointing well-qualified professionals to leadership roles in schools and education inspectorates, who are prepared to advocate for the rights of Hungarian students.
Regarding the teaching of Romanian language and literature, Zoltán Kallós pointed out that
the law requires Romanian to be taught according to the special minority curriculum, which has been in place since 2021.
The current graduating class will be the first to complete their exams under this curriculum. He warned that non-compliance with the special curriculum could lead to issues at graduation, and highlighted the responsibility of school inspectors and principals to ensure that teachers follow the approved guidelines.
The Secretary of State, who represents the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania in the government, also expressed his hope that the results of the Romanian school-leaving exams for Hungarian students would improve. He noted that competitive Romanian language skills are crucial for students to succeed in their home country and reduce the number of students seeking higher education in Hungary, as many do not return to Transylvania after studying abroad.
Via MTI; Featured Image: Pixabay