Peto Institute’s Future Safe – Govt Official

Budapest, July 2 (MTI) – The amendment of the higher education law, which includes putting the Peto Institute of Conductive Education under state management, will secure the long-term financing of the institute, a government official said today.

Bence Retvari, parliamentary state secretary at the human resources ministry, told a press conference held in Budapest in front of the Peto Institute — known around the world for its work for children with locomotive disorders — that it was a basic obligation for all Hungarian governments to guarantee the conditions for the pursuit of education and development work carried out by the Peto Institute.

“This is a Hungaricum: the institute uses a method that is recognised in many countries around the world,” Retvari said.

The budget of the Peto Institute totalled between 1.5 and 2 billion forints (EUR 4.8-6.4m) in the past. Placing the institute under state management will guarantee, after uncertainty in recent years, the availability of this funding, he said, adding that parliament would vote on the changes on Friday and they could enter force from September.

He said the institute had been wrapped up in long-term legal disputes and financial difficulties. A public foundation that acted as intermediary between the state and the institute has drawn away resources and generated disputes, he added. Thanks to the law amendment, these concerns can be put safely in the past, he added.