The school year starts with threats of with strikes and “civil disobedience”.Continue reading
As of September 1, around 700,000 pupils will start the school year in 2,184 state primary and secondary schools. The start of school today is expected to lead to an increase in traffic across the country, especially during the morning and afternoon rush hours, public broadcaster M1 News reported.
Speaking at the opening of the national school year, State Secretary Bence Rétvári said that Hungarians want peace, because prosperity and progress can only be achieved in peace. He added that the new National Curriculum is 21st century, child-centric, and patriotic. “If any of these were missing, our future would be at risk.
We must raise a generation today that will be ready to compete in 20 years’ time.”
Bence Rétvári stressed that the Hungarian government wants to invest in education, which is why it has submitted plans for EU funds to be used to invest hundreds of billions in education. The State Secretary added that the source of the 10% annual wage increases would be secured regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.
In Hungary today, all pupils receive free textbooks and the amount spent on social meals has more than tripled.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the school milk and fruit scheme will continue this school year and the government will continue to provide the necessary national funding. According to the ministry, hundreds of thousands of children will receive fresh milk and fruit through the program.
The primary aim of the scheme is to encourage healthy eating habits and the regular consumption of milk and dairy products, as well as fruit and vegetables, among the growing generation, thereby reducing the risk of children being overweight, obesity, and the early onset of related diseases.
The School Milk Scheme was launched when Hungary joined the European Union in 2004. When the initiative was launched, school milk was initially available only to primary school pupils, and was later extended to kindergarten and secondary school pupils. As part of the program, in addition to healthy food, pupils are also made aware of the importance of healthy eating through playful activities, helping to increase their knowledge of the fruit, vegetable, and dairy sectors.
Featured photo: MTI/Balázs Attila