Hungary plans reforms to kindergarten and school transitions

Judit Lannert, the Minister of Education and Children, has announced plans to reform the early childhood care and kindergarten education system in Hungary. The proposed changes aim to treat early childhood as a unified process with a focus on prevention and family support.

A central component of the reform is the introduction of flexible transitions between kindergarten and school. This includes restoring flexible school starts and potentially introducing flexible kindergarten starts. Under the new system, kindergartens may receive greater professional responsibility in determining whether a child is ready for school or should remain in kindergarten for an additional year. This aims to move the decision-making process closer to parents and the professionals who know the children, bypassing complex administrative procedures used previously.

Additional reforms include the development of a new National Core Program for Kindergarten Education and a new nursery core program. The government also intends to focus on digital child protection, which may require a new methodological center and independent legislation. Some reports suggest these changes could be presented to the government as early as next week, with the possibility of implementation by autumn.