The Hungarian government has approved a comprehensive restructuring of the country’s education management system, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Facebook on Thursday.
Under the reform, the Klebelsberg Centre will cease to function as the intermediary body overseeing school districts and will instead become a research, development, and professional support institution for public education.
Magyar said all school district directors will be selected through open competitions to create a more competitive and humane education system.
According to the prime minister, a government-ordered review carried out over the past two months by the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs revealed that the sector’s problems were even more severe than previously believed.
He said the investigation uncovered cases in which school districts had used funds originally allocated for salaries and other staff benefits to cover day-to-day operating expenses.
As part of the reform, all school district director positions will be advertised through open competitions from 20 August. Unlike under the previous system, local mayors will also participate in the selection process, while successful candidates will receive five-year appointments.
The government expects future district leaders to be chosen based on professional programmes, leadership experience, and proven results, Magyar said.
He added that the Klebelsberg Centre would retain its name in recognition of the legacy of former education minister Kuno Klebelsberg, but its responsibilities would fundamentally change. From 1 January 2027, direct responsibility for education management will be transferred to the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs.
Magyar described the reform as far more than an administrative reorganization, saying its purpose was to ensure schools have qualified teachers, access to specialist staff such as special education professionals, faster procurement of essential equipment, and improved school facilities. He also said teachers should be able to work according to their professional judgement without fear of retaliation.
The prime minister said the changes would bring decision-making closer to schools, while giving district leaders clearer responsibilities and greater autonomy. He added that teachers would be able to devote more time to educating and supporting students.
Magyar said thousands of teaching positions remain vacant across the country and argued that the situation would be even more difficult without the continued employment of retired teachers.
He also noted that in 2025 alone the government had provided more than 27 billion forints in additional funding to school districts simply to cover utility bills and other operating costs.
According to the prime minister, the review found that school districts lacked authority to approve purchases worth little more than 1 million forints independently. At the same time, budget reallocations worth several billion forints were made without clear oversight. In one case involving a 3 billion forint reallocation, officials were unable to explain the criteria used to distribute the funds.
Magyar also criticized the previous system for allowing teachers to be dismissed after speaking out about workplace issues. He argued that these decisions had been made by school district directors who had been appointed indefinitely without open competition.
Related articles:
At a time when public debate is increasingly polarized and superficial, Hungarian Conservative remains committed to depth, intellectual honesty, and independent conservative thought.
Producing high-quality journalism requires resources. Your contribution helps us expand our coverage, reach new audiences, and keep our content accessible.
Please consider supporting our mission.