Thousands of Hungarians have rallied in the capital, Budapest, to protest against new legislation that would eliminate the Public Servant status of teachers.
Conservative Prime Minister, Viktor Orban has faced increasing public protests as he has clashed with the European Union over democratic standards, curbed independent media, academics and judges and cracked down on the rights of migrants and LGBT people.
The most recent protest came after a series of rallies and strikes for higher salaries and better working conditions for teachers.
Hungary’s inflation rate, now running at 24 per cent, has eroded teachers’ wages that are already below the national average and rank second-to-last among countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Protesters marched against the new so-called Status Law that would also significantly increase teachers’ workloads.
Critics referred to the legislation as the ‘Revenge Law’, perceived as punishment for teachers’ year-long resistance.
The Government said the Bill aimed to improve the quality of education. Almost 5,000 teachers have already said they will leave their profession if the Status Law comes into force.
Street protests over the past year have been peaceful except for one early this month when police tear-gassed some teenagers in a pro-teacher rally as they tried to get closer to Mr Orban’s offices, surrounded by construction fences since 2020.
Meanwhile, the Government said it would hold talks with the Opposition about the future of education in the country.
Minister for the Interior, Sándor Pintér said he had invited all parliamentary parties to a consultation on the new legislation on teachers’ career paths.
The consultation would come “after three months of comprehensive consultation with professional organisations and society on the matter”, the Ministry said in a statement.
Budapest, 23 May 2023
