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.
Five trade union confederations published a statement on Wednesday, protesting against the government’s plan to reopen primary schools and kindergartens on April 19, saying the measure was “unnecessary and dangerous for children”.
The statement was signed by leaders of the Confederation of Trade Unions (SZEF), the Trade Union Association of Intellectuals (ÉSZT), the LIGA of trade unions, the National Association of Workers’ Councils and the Hungarian Association of Trade Unions (MASZSZ).
The unions welcomed the government decision to push back the opening of secondary schools to May 10. They said, at the same time, that reopening kindergartens and primary schools was “unnecessary according to experts and everyday experience”.