Descending resources in Hungarian education

The money spent on one student from elementary school to higher education per year is barely higher than the half of the OECD-average.

According to metropol.hu, the 5564 dollars (5118 Euros, 1,6 million Forints) is not only little compared to the average, but out of the OECD member countries only 8 spends less on their students’ education – writes the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in its report.

The amount of the state’s sources spent on education has been reducing for some time. The study mentions that between 2005 and 2012 the number began to take a smaller part out of the total state expenses. The rate was 7,5% in 2012 which is the second lowest out of the OECD countries. It is also emphasized that during the first governance, between 2008 and 2010 the money spent on education dropped by 11% in real terms, while in the next two years, the Fidesz-government cut it by 13%.

Statists also analysed the data concerning the salary of pedagogues. According to the results, the rate of their salary is much lower than professionals working in different fields of the labour market with a similar qualification. Secondary school teachers are highlighted: pedagogues don’t even earn the 48% of what their coevals earn with similar qualifications. They also added that salaries are rising between 2013 and 2017.

Statistics show that less than 30% of elementary and secondary school teachers are under the age of 40, which makes it important to make this profession attractive for young adults.