Hungarian education policy faces criticism at PedagógusFesztivál

At the III. PedagógusFesztivál, participants evaluated the first hundred days of the Tisza government's education policies. The 2026–2027 academic year marks a significant shift as an independent ministry has once again taken responsibility for public education.

Despite some consensus regarding a positive shift in professional dialogue, the event featured sharp criticism from educators and experts. Erzsébet Nagy, solicitor for the PDSZ, highlighted urgent issues including teacher overload, unpaid overtime, the absence of a salary scale, and the lack of wage settlements for staff in other roles. She also criticized the ministry for issuing methodological recommendations that allegedly disregard existing legal frameworks, such as the implementation of 35-minute lessons.

Orsolya Dobos, co-president of the Association of Foundation and Private Schools and Kindergartens, noted that while many qualified professionals have joined the ministry, the organization's incomplete structure has hindered effective decision-making. Other researchers, including István Nahalka and Péter Radó, expressed similar concerns regarding the current state of educational governance.