This letter was written by an anonymous principal of a secondary school in Budapest. It is translated and edited for HFP by Steven Kovács.
Organization
First Day of Schools Reopening Sees 25-40% of Students Opting to Stay Home
The lower grades of primary schools (grades 1-4) and kindergartens opened on the 19th of April. According to the decision of the Orbán government, since teachers received their first dose of vaccination before the opening, and the home-schooling of little children is often unmanageable, the opening of kindergartens and lower grades of primary school is indispensable. However, the Democratic Union of Teachers (PDSZ) argues that although the government’s decision to postpone the opening of secondary schools was positive, all public education institutions should remain closed. Despite disagreements, schools reopened on April 19th, and the first reactions, experiences, and impacts from teachers and parents, were revealed.
Schools to Reopen in Hungary Next Monday, Heated Debate Continues
The debate on the reopening of schools in Hungary continues. Although Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced last week that secondary schools will not return to on-site education until May, kindergartens and primary schools are still scheduled to open next Monday. While the government claims it is safe to return to in-person education, several teacher’s unions are protesting the decision. Meanwhile, many parents are considering not letting their children back to school right at the height of the third coronavirus wave.
“Everything is ready for the opening of schools on April 19,” Secretary of State for Public Education, Zoltán Maruzsa, said at a press conference on Friday.