Hungarian Education Minister Lannert Judit Rules Out Closure of Church Schools

Education Minister Judit Lannert said there is no plan to shut down Hungary's church‑run schools or the six‑ and eight‑grade institutions that have been the subject of speculation. After a meeting organised by Rita Rubovszky of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Lannert highlighted a shared effort to address challenges in public education, emphasizing data‑driven, child‑centred and partnership‑focused approaches. She noted that discussions covered teacher evaluation, vocational training, and the renewal of teacher‑training programmes.

Lannert also outlined her vision for revising the National Core Curriculum (NAT), proposing the inclusion of civic education, health, financial literacy, social‑science basics and greater emphasis on media literacy. She stressed that curriculum reform will involve many experts and take time.

Regarding financing, the minister called for sector‑neutral funding and said church schools should continue operating only if they admit Roma children alongside non‑Roma peers, aiming to curb segregation. She reiterated the need for inclusive enrollment and equitable support for all schools serving hundreds of thousands of students.