Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungarian schools are “under pressure by various civil groups trying to capture them under the name of godless ideologies".
Speaking at the inauguration of a refurbished school in Hegykő, in north-western Hungary, on Tuesday, the minister said such groups “question the rights and role of parents … while the future lies in building communities, with the Catholic Church having a crucial role." Communities will be much needed in view of the current challenges. “The lightning strikes of war are above our heads, while animosity has become the cornerstone of international politics, and the world is on its way to being divided into blocs once more,” he said. But, he added, “a strong Hungary built on strong communities will overcome even those challenges.” Hegykő’s Old School has been refurbished with 220 million forints (EUR 592,000) in state and European Union funds.
Meanwhile, the minister said the Science and Innovation Park at the University of Győr, in northwest Hungary, will have a serious role in the close cooperation of higher education and the economy, and so in Hungary’s economic success. After a visit to the construction now starting a new phase, the minister said the 6.7 billion forint (EUR 1.8bn) investment will create an innovative environment that will foster the growth of Hungarian start-ups and facilitate the ties between research and industry. The park offers more than 50 laboratories, and the number of students is over 15,000, he said.