INCA Education around the world
Hungary : Initial Teacher Training
7.5.1 Control
7.5.2 Types of training institutions and courses
7.5.2.1 Admissions
7.5.3 Trainers
7.5.4 Curriculum for initial teacher training
7.5.5 Qualifications and standards
7.5.5.1 Qualifications and entitlement
7.5.5.2 Probationary periods
7.5.6 Post-qualification induction periods
Please note that the initial teacher training sections of the website were originally funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). They have not been updated since March 2009 and the information provided in them by have been superseded.
This section of the INCA website describes initial teacher training for teachers of students with special educational needs. For information on initial teacher training for teachers in pre-compulsory, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary mainstream education, see sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 of the mainstream country archive respectively.
7 Initial teacher training
Teacher training represents the largest sector of higher education in Hungary: at present about one quarter of all students in higher education are enrolled on a teacher training course. Teacher training is currently pursued by about half the institutions of higher education (33 out of a total of 65, and 27 out of the 30 institutions maintained by the state). 23
Education in Hungary is provided for pre-school age children, aged 3 - 6; children aged 6 - 14 in the general school; and students aged 14 - 18/19 in various forms of upper secondary school. Some students do, however, move on to secondary level education (from the general school) at either age 10 or 12. Section 7.1 of the mainstream chapter consequently describes teacher training for teachers training to teach the younger age range (3 +); sections 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 of the mainstream chapter describe training for teachers looking to teach either in the general 6 - 14 school or to teach students aged 10+/12+ or 14+ in various forms of secondary school.
7.5 Initial training of teachers working with students with special educational needs in publicly funded mainstream or special schools
7.5.1 Control
Special teacher training includes, on the one hand, the training of special needs education teachers (gyógypedagógus) and, on the other, training for people such as dormitory governors (care assistants) (kollégiumi nevelõtanár) and social pedagogues, and training in the subjects of psychology and pedagogy. Within initial teacher training, the type of specialisation for special education is determined by the type of special need involved, while in the category of other training courses, it is determined by the nature of the pedagogical task (such as boarding school education or specialist pedagogical services in the fields of pedagogy or child welfare). 23
For further information, see sections 7.1.1, 7.2.1, 7.3.1 and 7.4.1 of the mainstream archive for Hungary.
7.5.2 Types of training institutions and courses
During the whole of the period 1900-1999, special needs education teachers were trained at a single institution, the Special Needs Education School Teacher Training College in Budapest. This was established for the purpose of training special needs education teachers (gyógypedagógus) for all types of institutions working with children with any type of special need. 23
Initially, this institution provided specialist courses for people already holding pedagogical qualifications (primary school (tanító) and lower and upper secondary school teachers). Since 1928, when it became a special education teacher training college (and remained the country's sole such institution), it has been training special needs education teachers (gyógypedagógus) in a four-year teaching degree programme, in paired-majors programmes, with degree courses differentiated according to the type of special need involved. In 2000, with the integration of the network of higher education institutions in Hungary, the Special Needs Education School Teacher Training College became a college-level faculty of the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. 23
At present, following the integration of institutions, the Special Needs Education School Teacher Training College operates as a university faculty issuing college-level BA qualifications. In recent years, this type of training has also been offered in a few other teacher training institutions (currently only offering the degrees in the education of children with learning difficulties and of the mentally impaired).23
The government decree concerning qualifications requirements in degree programmes in special needs education pedagogy, issued in 2000, made a slight change in the structure of specialisation. It introduced a new component of specialisation in any special education degree programme, whereby students can qualify either as a teacher or as a therapist, as the programme provides the opportunity to differentiate preparation for the tasks of school education and that of therapeutic individual development. Furthermore, the decree extended the choice of paired majors to other degree programmes in pedagogy, and established the university-level degree programme (MA) in special education pedagogy (the licensing procedure is still underway). This degree is of a similar general nature to that of a college-level degree (BA) in special education pedagogy. Teacher qualification may also be acquired in simultaneous or as supplementary training (kiegészítõ képzés). Holders of this qualification are entitled to teach students with special needs in vocational training. 23
Although they do not specifically train special needs teachers (gyógypedagógus), other institutions (typically teacher training higher education institutions) incorporate special needs pedagogical knowledge in their training programmes within the scope of short courses or optional subjects. 23
A well-known institution for specialists dealing with the physically disabled (konduktor tanár) is the Petõ András Specialist Training and Care Institute for the Physically Challenged. 23
7.5.2.1 Admissions
As with other types of teacher training, prior to the entrance examinations (see 7.1.2.1), several of the institutions offering training for special education teachers (gyógypedagógus) require skills or aptitude testing, failure in which generally precludes admission. 23
See 7.1.2.1, 7.2.2.1, 7.3.2.1 and 7.4.2.1 for further information on admissions to courses of initial teacher training.
7.5.3 Trainers
See sections 7.1.3, 7.2.3, 7.3.3 and 7.4.3 of the mainstream Hungary archive.
7.5.4 Curriculum for initial teacher training
The training of special needs education teachers (gyógypedagógus) in the Special Needs Education School Teacher Training College prepares students for the position of pre-school (óvodapedagógus) and primary school teacher (tanító) of children with special needs. In addition, the course prepares them for special development and therapeutic work with students with special needs in higher school grades, and with adults. Specialisation depends on the type of special needs involved. Currently, the duration of such training is four years, is available in a paired major course with another major. Such training is available in seven types of college-level degree programmes in special needs education. Students are currently able to obtain the following college-level (BA) majors:
- pedagogy of the mentally impaired,
- pedagogy of the hearing impaired,
- pedagogy of the vision impaired,
- speech therapy/speech defects (logopaedia),
- psycho-pedagogy,
- somatopedagogy (teaching of the injured or disabled); and
- pedagogy of the learning impaired. 23
In these seven fields of special needs teacher training, daytime undergraduate education is offered with double subjects, and evening undergraduate and postgraduate education is offered in a single degree course. 23
Students in special needs teacher training have the opportunity to pursue studies in respective fields from the 3rd semester, and in teacher or therapist specialisation from the 5th year, following the so-called "foundation stage" of their undergraduate studies. 23
In addition to daytime education, a very important part of the work of the Special Needs Education Teacher Training Faculty is the postgraduate training offered as a single degree course in five and eight semesters. This provides an opportunity for graduates to obtain specialist qualifications in any of the fields within the scope of special needs branches. 23
7.5.5 Qualifications and standards
7.5.5.1 Qualifications and entitlement
The training of special needs education teachers (gyógypedagógus) prepares students as pre-school (óvodapedagógus) and primary school teachers for children with special needs. It also qualifies them for special development and therapeutic work with students with special needs in higher school grades, and with adults. The most typical area of employment for special needs teachers (gyógypedagógus) is schools and other institutions providing for children with special needs, yet they often find employment in institutions protecting the interests of people with special needs or providing social care to people (mostly adults) with special needs. 23
In addition, some primary school teachers are qualified to teach special needs education, depending on the actual branch of initial teacher training they followed.23
7.5.5.2 Probationary periods
See 7.5.6.
7.5.6 Post-qualification induction periods
See sections 7.1.6, 7.2.6, 7.3.6 and 7.4.6 of the mainstream Hungary archive.
