New vocational schools launched in Hungary

Budapest, August 29 (MTI) – September will see the start of new kinds of vocational training in Hungary, Economy Minister Mihály Varga said in Kecskemét, in central Hungary, on Monday.

Opening the new school year at a youth centre in Kecskemét, southern Hungary, Varga noted that both vocational high schools and vocational colleges will offer matriculation exams, so there is a possibility that students can continue into higher education. This will abolish the previous state of affairs whereby many students who opted for vocational training found themselves at an educational dead-end.

He said an indispensible condition of maintaining economic growth was making sure that trained employees are available in every single sector.

Policymaking for vocational training has been put under one roof thanks to a law which also provides for the establishment of new training centres and an emphasis on spreading dual training that underpins work experience.

The new vocational schools form a part of government plans to offer high standards in vocational training, returning the prestige it deserves, Varga said.

The number of scholarships in vocations where there is a skills shortage on the labour market will be increased and students can receive up to 50,000 forints (EUR 161) a month in stipends, depending on their academic performance, he said.