Government submits new education bill to parliament

The interior ministry has confirmed that following consultations with professional organizations and unions, the government has submitted a bill on teachers' new career paths, including remuneration and legal status, to parliament.

 

The interior ministry said the legislation is aimed at improving the professional and financial appreciation of teachers. While drafting the bill, the government considered the results of online surveys and consultations with teachers and parents. Consultations took place with professional organisations, unions and parties with most of the results incorporated in the bill, the ministry said. At the same time, leftist lawmakers had made “provocative statements and aggressive demands” at consultations held about the bill and follow-up consultations had only been attended by three of the seven parties invited, the statement said. The ministry said the government was committed to giving teachers a significant pay rise. It raised teachers’ wages in advance by 10% from January, but will bump them up retroactively “as soon as Hungary receives the European Union funding it is entitled to”. Teachers’ wages may reach 80 percent of the average wage of degree holders by 2025, it said. Teachers’ employment status will be defined as a public education employee.

 

The interior ministry said it includes the introduction of performance-based salaries, a concept supported by the majority of teachers. Teachers helping children in catching up, preparing talents for competitions and organizing creative classes in addition to the basic curriculum will receive higher wages. The basic annual leave of teachers will increase from 45 to 50 days and the school year will be allowed to be extended by a maximum of one month if some unavoidable condition arises during the school year which makes education impossible nationwide. The rule on obliging a teacher to teach in another institution will be retained, so that it can be applied within the relevant administrative region or in specific life situations, and only with the consent of the teacher. Under the bill, the supervision of teachers is regulated under the Labour Code. It says that the private life of teachers is inviolable, however, the employer can inspect the education-related contents stored in laptops and tablets provided by the employer. The bill reinstates the institution of a disciplinary procedure to protect teachers, the ministry said, noting that under current regulations a serious violation of law can only be sanctioned by dismissal. The bill will be subject to further debates in parliament, the ministry said.