Administrative responsibilities in the field of education are shared between the Ministry of Education and other Ministries (primarily the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior).
Administrative control of education is decentralised and responsibility is shared between central (national), local (regional) and institutional levels. Local government administers pre-primary, primary and secondary education. Educational establishments enjoy a degree of decision-making autonomy, not only in terms of organisation and day-to-day functioning, but also with regard to their budgets.
Most students attend public sector schools, which are administered and organised by public authorities, usually local government. However, municipalities, churches, foundations and individuals may open private (as opposed to state) schools, provided that these meet legally-set criteria. The highest proportion of private schools is in the secondary school sector (20-25 per cent). In general schools and kindergarten, private schools account for around 10 per cent of schools. Around 25 per cent of secondary grammar schools are private, mostly maintained by the church. These may only charge fees if there is no agreement on public subsidy with the local government. Usually, private sector educational establishments, which are set up and run by other authorities, receive over 50 per cent of their subsidies from public authorities.
The official language of instruction is Hungarian, but a number of ethnic and national minorities (Germans, Romanians, Slovenians, Serbs and Croatians, for example) have minority educational institutions (at primary and secondary level), with their own language as first or second language of instruction. The provision of minority education is the responsibility of local government. Thirteen minority languages are recognised in Hungary; students have the right to receive instruction through the medium of any of these languages, provided there is sufficient demand.
Education is compulsory up to the age of 18. Vocational studies cannot generally be commenced before the age of 16, in order for students to acquire a fundamental general education.
| Phases | Age range |
| Óvoda (pre-primary/kindergarten) – one preparatory year, compulsory | Age 5-6 |
| Általános iskola (general school – single structure) |
Age 6 - 14, 1st cycle: age 6-10 2nd cycle: age 10-14 |
| Gimnázium (general lower and upper secondary grammar school) | Age 10/12/14 – 18/19 |
| Various forms of vocational secondary or training school | Age 14 - 18/19/20 (usually around 4 years) |
The education system in Hungary is essentially based on an 8 + 4 system, that is, eight years of education in the general school (students aged 6 to 14), followed by four years of upper secondary education (aged 14 to 18+). Some students do, however, leave general school at age 10 or 12 to move on to secondary education.
Compulsory education is free of charge, although private schools may charge fees. Schools are obliged to admit all children who live in the catchment area, but parents may apply to any school. Upper secondary school admission is based on the school’s entrance procedures and on guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education.
Kindergarten caters for children from 3 to 6 years of age. Participation in pre-compulsory education is optional, except for the final year, which is compulsory from the age of 5. All 5-year-olds must consequently attend kindergarten for up to four hours each day in preparation for compulsory education. A kindergarten certificate is essential for admission to compulsory primary level education.
In 2004, the attendance rate at kindergarten for children aged between 3 and 5 years was just over 86 per cent.
Public sector institutions offering pre-compulsory education may only charge for additional services, such as extra-curricular activities, meals and excursions. These are charged for by the kindergartens themselves; the education aspect is free.
Education is compulsory up to the age of 18 in Hungary (see above for details of courses).
Students with special educational needs in Hungary are usually placed either in separate institutions (‘special general schools for the disabled’), are catered for in separate classes in mainstream compulsory general schools, or in ‘normal’ classes of mainstream compulsory general schools (6- to 14-year-olds).
Students with special educational needs attending mainstream schools have additional hours of education and rehabilitation. The number of remedial hours allowed is dependent on the number of children with special needs in a school and on the nature of their need. Extra lessons can be provided by special teachers or by regular, mainstream teachers.
The school year comprises 185 days, traditionally starting from the end of August (or beginning of September) to 31 August of the following year. Currently, there are three, one-week holidays during the autumn, winter and spring, and a long summer break which lasts for 10 to 11 weeks.
There are five school days each week (Monday – Friday) and lessons last 45 minutes. The law stipulates the maximum number of lessons at each educational stage. Children in Years 1-3 (ages 6 to 9) study for a maximum of four hours per day; in Years 4-6 (ages 9 to 12) they study for four to five hours (the weekly average must not exceed 4.5 hours per day); and in Years 7-8 (12- to 14-year-olds) the maximum daily study time is five hours. In Years 9 and 10 (ages 14-16), students must not study for more than an average of 5.5 hours per day (over the five-day week); from Year 11 (age 16+) this maximum average increases to six hours.
Hungary has adopted a National Core Curriculum (NCC), which originally had two major parts:
An additional level – between the National Core Curriculum (NCC) and the school-based curriculum – and comprising framework curricula – was introduced in 2000. Providing additional guidance to assist schools in developing their individual, school-level curricula, these framework curricula began to be implemented in schools in September 2001.
The Framework Curriculum states that the following subjects should be taught:
Years 1 to 4 (ages 6 to 10)
Hungarian language and literature (which may include teaching of one of the official minority languages in Hungary), foreign language, mathematics, music, drawing and visual culture, technology and ways of living, and physical education and sports.
Years 5 to 8 (ages 10 to 14)
Hungarian language and literature (which may include teaching of one of the official minority languages in Hungary), history and citizenship/civic knowledge, foreign languages, mathematics, information technology, nature (only taught in Years 5 and 6, ages 10 – 12), physics (only taught in Years 7 and 8, aged 12 – 14), biology (only taught in Years 7 and 8, aged 12 – 14), ‘our earth and environment’ (only taught in Years 7 and 8, aged 12 – 14), singing and music, drawing and visual culture, technology and lifestyle, and physical education and sports.
Year 9 (ages 14 to 15)
Hungarian language and literature, history, first foreign language, second foreign language, mathematics, information technology, physics, chemistry, the earth and the environment, music, drawing and visual culture, physical education and sports, home class, social studies, and dance and drama.
Year 10 (ages 15 to 16)
Hungarian language and literature, history, first foreign language, second foreign language, mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, the earth and the environment, music, drawing and visual culture, physical education and sports, home class, social studies, and dance and drama.
Year 11 (aged 16 to 17)
Hungarian language and literature, history, the study of man and ethics, first foreign language, second foreign language, mathematics, physics, biology, physical education and sports, home class, social studies, film and media studies, and the arts.
Year 12 (ages 17 to 18)
Hungarian language and literature, history, first foreign language, second foreign language, mathematics, introduction to philosophy, biology, physical education and sports, home class, social studies, film and media studies, and the arts.
The curricular structure for secondary vocational schools is determined by the specific type of school. New curricular regulations determine that general education only should be offered in the first two years of vocational school courses; these may, however, include some career orientation and/or introductory vocational education. Vocational and professional studies proper commence after this initial two-year period of general study.
Curricula in vocational training schools are diverse, depending on the field being studied. The preparation of curricula for such schools is usually the responsibility of the National Institute for Vocational Education.
Religious education is usually offered in schools supported by church organisations only.
Students study the subject of history and citizenship/civic knowledge during Years 5 – 8 (ages 10 to 14). They also follow a course in social studies from Years 9 – 12 (ages 14 to 18). ‘The study of man and ethics’ is taught in Year 11.
Textbooks are usually chosen by teachers from a State recommended list, although additional material can also be selected. This list is published every year. Parents usually pay for textbooks.
In all levels of education, the performance of students is evaluated regularly during the school year, and end-of-term and end-of-year marks are provided in each subject. The NCC formulates attainment targets for students at the end of Years 4, 6 and 8 (ages 10, 12 and 14 respectively).
The first national examination for the end of Year 10 (age 16) – the basic examination (alapvizsga) (or "alapmuveltségi vizsga") - began to be introduced in 2002. Schools providing programmes for students in Years 9 and 10 must offer this examination; students decide whether to take it.
On completion of upper secondary education (usually the secondary grammar school at age 18, Year 12), there is one national, centrally-controlled examination, called the maturity examination or matriculation examination (érettségi). Successful completion is essential for entry to higher education. The secondary vocational school can also lead to the maturity examination (at age 18) (or to the combined vocational and maturity examination, the skilled worker’s examination, or the technician’s examination). Vocational training schools (szakmunkásképzo iskola) usually lead to the skilled workers' certificate, which is valid all over Hungary. The special vocational training school leads to a lower level training qualification.
A new type of two-level maturity examination began to be introduced from 2004.
Primary school teachers obtain their qualifications through a non-university higher education course lasting four or five years; they are trained as generalists. Lower secondary level teachers follow a four- or five-year training course. Upper secondary level teachers obtain their qualifications through a general university course lasting four or five years, plus an additional year of general and professional training. Most teachers have civil servant status.