Similarities and Lessons Learnt: A Comparative Analysis of Education Reforms in Slovakia and Hungary
Similarities and Lessons Learnt: A Comparative Analysis of Education Reforms in Slovakia and Hungary

Summary/Abstract: Slovakia’s education system is undergoing significant reforms. The changes launched in recent years, affecting all areas of education, have long been overdue in the coun¬try. The history of education policy in Hungary and Slovakia, both before and during the transition to democracy, shared many common features. The objectives at the time – decentralisation, pluralistic approach, the publication of new curricula and text¬books, and the guarantee of professional autonomy – were all pursued in a similar manner. Since 2010, the differences have become significantly more pronounced, while the problems have remained the same in many areas. In Hungary, the recent period has been marked by a wealth of educational reforms, while in Slovakia the cur¬rent one is the most relevant. The effects and outcomes of the Hungarian reforms can offer numerous lessons, whether positive or cautionary. The current centralised Hun¬garian education system, the handling of segregation, and the structure of primary education now follow different paths, but it is disheartening that the two countries are still competing for the title of the most successful European country in compensating for social disadvantages.

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