2026

There have been no reforms yet this year.

2025

Salary increases linked to the teacher performance evaluation system have begun

In summer 2025, the Government issued a decree (Government Decree No. 182 of 2025 (30 June) on the payment of salaries based on the 2024/2025 school year performance evaluation and on the amendment of certain government decrees concerning public education), enabling the initial results of the teacher performance evaluation system introduced under Act LII of 2023 on the New Career Path for Teachers (hereinafter: Púétv) to be used as a basis for salary increases. Under the decree, the funding available for performance-related salary increases amounts, on average, to HUF 20,000 (EUR 51) per month per employee, calculated for full-time staff (FTE) subject to the performance evaluation system and allocated per operating authority. Employers may use this funding exclusively to increase the salaries of eligible employees. Teachers assessed as having average performance may receive a salary increase of up to HUF 20,000 (EUR 51) per month, while those assessed as outstanding performers may receive an increase of between HUF 20,000 (EUR 51) and HUF 60,000 (HUF 153) per month. These salary increases took effect in September 2025.

Further salary increases for teachers from 1 January 2026

In line with the agreement concluded with the European Union, the Government aims to ensure that the average salary of teachers reaches 80% of the average salary of higher education graduates during the period 2025-2031. To support this objective, detailed regulations on the next phase of salary increases were issued in December 2025 (Government Decree No. 435 of 2025 (23 December) on the 2026 Teacher Salary Increase and the Central Budgetary Support Provided Therefor). Under the decree, employers are required to increase teachers’ base salaries - excluding allowances and remuneration for special assignments, and calculated on the basis of salaries as of 1 December 2025, in accordance with Section 98 of Púétv - by an average of 10% at the institutional level, with effect from 1 January 2026. Government Decree No. 401 of 2023 (30 August) on the implementation of Act LII of 2023 sets the minimum gross monthly base salaries for teaching positions as follows: Junior Teacher: HUF 705,000 (EUR 1,798), Teacher I: HUF 718,000 (EUR 1,832), Teacher II: HUF 725,000 (EUR 1,849), Master Teacher: HUF 785,000 (EUR 2,003), and Researcher Teacher: HUF 915,000 (EUR 2,334). The government’s stated objective is that the average salary of teachers in public education should reach at least 80% of the average salary of higher education graduates by 2026, and remain at no less than this level until at least 31 December 2031.

Creation of additional workplace nurseries in rural areas

The government is supporting the establishment of new workplace nurseries in rural communities with a total funding of HUF 1.3 billion (EUR 3.34 million) from combined European Union and state resources. (https://kormany.hu/hirek/koncz-zsofia-europai-unios-es-allami-forrasbol-segiti-a-kormany-ujabb-munkahelyi-bolcsodek-kialakitasat) Local municipalities can apply for grants to create one or two group rooms, accommodating up to 8 or 16 children respectively. (https://www.palyazat.gov.hu/programok/szechenyi-terv-plusz/efop-plusz/efop_plusz-6.1.1-25/alapadatok) The measure aims to further support the employment of women with young children, making it easier for them to return to work.

Facilitating a smooth transition from pre-school to primary school

To ensure a seamless move from pre-primary education to primary education and to strengthen school-readiness activities within pre-school programmes, the government has amended (https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2025-77-20-22.0#AC1) the National Core Programme for Pre-primary Education. (https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2012-363-20-22.6) The amendment guarantees that every child receives support tailored to their abilities. Under the new provision, during the academic year before children reach compulsory school age, pre-school groups must provide a daily total of 45 minutes of school-preparation developmental activities. These sessions are to be adapted to each child’s individual capacity and, where infrastructure allows, organised in a separate space.

Another pay raise for teachers

Under a government decree (453/2024. (XII. 30.) Korm. rendelet), the salaries of pre-school teachers will rise by an average of 21.2% from 1 January 2025. The government's previous commitment was that the average teacher's salary should reach 80% of the average graduate salary in 2025. The government will provide a 21.2% increase in the salary compared to 2024, differentiated by the employer on the basis of further detailed rules.

Renewing teachers’ continuing professional development scheme

The government has reformed and modernised the continuing professional development scheme for teachers from 2025 onwards (419/2024.(XII. 23.) Korm. rendelet). It requires teachers to complete 120 credits over five years, including at least 60 credits in content renewal courses and up to 60 credits in optional courses. The content renewal courses are organised by Ludovika University of Public Service, while the optional courses organised by the Educational Authority and religious courses organised by the churches. In the case of content renewal and optional courses, a teacher training programme may be organised in line with the National Basic Programme for Pre-school Education and its educational objectives (Óvodai nevelés országos alapprogramja).

2024

Targeted training for pre-school teachers on content regulators

Following a ministerial decree (40/2024. (IX. 2.) BM rendelet), pre-school teachers have been required to attend an additional ten hours of distance learning between 1 September 2024 and 31 January 2025, independently of the continuing professional development scheme, to update their knowledge of the National Basic Programme for Pre-school Education (Óvodai nevelés országos alapprogramja) as the primary content regulation document. To pass the final end-of-course examination, teachers must answer 15 out of 20 questions correctly.

New teacher status and career path

The Act on the New Careers of Teachers (Act LII of 2023 on the New Careers of Teachers) entered into force on 1 January 2023, which means that from 1 January 2024 all teachers working in school education have been replaced from their previous status as public servants or employees by the status of school education employees, and the rules of their employment have been changed in several respects.

Teacher pay raise

Two Government Decrees (Government Decree No. 661 of 2023 (December 29) on the support related to the part of the salary for the creation of opportunities to be paid by certain maintainers, on the additional budget support for 2024 and amending Government Decree No. 401 of 2023 (August 30) on the implementation of Act LII of 2023 on the new career of teachers; and Government Decree No. 662 of 2023 (December 29) on the emergency rules for central budget support for teacher salary increases) have been issued with effect from 1 January 2024, marking the start of a significant pay raise. In 2024, teachers' pay will increase by an average of 32.2% to reach 71.8% of average graduate earnings. Further pay raises will be introduced in the following period, with the aim of reaching 80% of average graduate earnings by 2025. The pay raise will be partly financed by the European Social Fund. The increase will not only apply to teachers in public education institutions, but also to a similar extent to teachers in private and church-run schools, as decided by the government.

Introduction of a new teacher appraisal

From 1 June 2024, the Government introduced a new system of teacher appraisal the framework of which was established by the Act on the Careers of Teachers (Act LII of 2023 on the New Careers of Teachers), and the details of which were set out in a new ministerial decree published on 4 April 2024 (Decree ofthe Ministry of the Interior No. 18 of 2024 (4 April) on the performance assessment of teachers). 

According to the new appraisal scheme, the work of teachers and of those directly involved in education and training (NOKS) will be assessed annually (by 30 June) by the head of the kindergarten. Heads of kindergarten are evaluated by representatives of the maintaining authority. During the assessment process, personal performance targets are set and then assessed for achievement. The annex to the ministerial decree details the criteria for performance assessment and the maximum points that can be awarded. The assessment is conducted through an electronic interface.

In order to ensure the success of the implementation, the Education Authority, in consultation with the Ministry responsible for public education and the Klebelsberg Centre, and after consulting the National Faculty of Teachers, has developed and published on its website a detailed methodology, professional and procedural rules, and organised a series of workshops for stakeholders in cooperation with the Pedagogical Education Centres (POK).