2026

There have been no reforms yet this year.

2025

Integration of artificial intelligence into public education

In September 2025, the Government renewed Hungary’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the period 2025–2030 and adopted the related implementation measures (Government Resolution No. 1324 of 2025 (3 September) on the renewal of Hungary’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy and related implementation measures for the period 2025–2030). In this context, the Minister responsible for public education and the Government Commissioner for artificial intelligence were mandated to develop, by 31 March 2026, a roadmap for integrating of AI education into public education, and to ensure its implementation by 31 December 2026 (Government Resolution No. 1405 of 2025 (4 November) on measures aimed at raising public awareness of artificial intelligence). The Government has also decided to carry out annual reviews of the strategy.

Salary increases based on the results of the teacher performance evaluation system

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) stipulating that the initial results of the teacher performance evaluation system introduced under Act LII of 2023 on the New Career Path for Teachers (hereinafter: Púétv) may be used to fund salary increases for teachers. Under the decree, the amount available for salary increases determined through the performance evaluation system is, for each operating authority, HUF 20,000 (EUR 51) per month on average per employee, calculated for full-time staff (FTE) subject to the performance evaluation. Employers may use this amount 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 (EUR 153) per month. These salary increases took effect in September 2025.

Further salary increases from 1 January 2026

In accordance 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, the Government adopted a decree (Government Decree No. 435 of 2025 (23 December) on the 2026 Teacher Salary Increase and the Central Budgetary Support Provided Therefor) in December 2025. Under this regulation, employers are required to increase teachers’ salaries and wages - excluding allowances and remuneration for special assignments, 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 working in the public education system should reach at least 80% of the average salary of individuals with a higher education degree by 2026, and remain at no less than this level until at least 31 December 2031.

Teacher performance assessment have begun

The government has launched a new performance assessment scheme for teachers, non-teaching staff, and school heads in public education, starting in the 2024/2025 school year. The results will also be used to allocate performance-based salary increases. School and preschool heads should assess teachers based on several criteria by June 30, 2025, and by August 15, 2025, respectively. In the 100-point assessment, those scoring above 80 points are considered to have outstanding performance, those scoring between 50 and 80 points are considered to have average performance, and those scoring below 50 points are considered to have performance that needs improvement. Based on the results, school heads may award salary increases to teachers with average performance up to 20,000 forints (approx. €51.5) per month, and teachers with outstanding performance between 20,000 and 60,000 forints (approx. €51.5–€154.5) per month. (https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a2500182.kor).

Support for students returning from abroad

To  help integrate students returning from abroad who enter Grades 1-8 in public education, the government will provide additional funding to schools that teach these students beginning September 1, 2025. Schools will receive 130,000 forints per student per month (approx. €335), for a maximum of 10 months, in addition to basic funding. Participating schools are expected to offer five hours of individual preparatory guidance per week for each returning student. (https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2025-1268-30-22; https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2025-213-20-22)

Another pay raise for teachers

Under a government decree (453/2024. (XII. 30.) Korm. rendelet), the salaries of 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. On this basis, the basic salary of each teacher as of 1 December 2024 shall be increased by at least 21.4% for the category Teacher I., by at least 19.0% for the category Teacher II, by at least 13.8% for the category Master Teacher, and by at least 12% for the category Research Teacher.

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 Core Curriculum and its educational objectives (Nemzeti Alaptanterv) as well as the general secondary education leaving examination requirements (Érettségi vizsgakövetelmények).

2024

Targeted training for teachers on content regulators

Following a ministerial decree (40/2024. (IX. 2.) BM rendelet), 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 Core Curriculum (Nemzeti Alaptanterv) and the general secondary education leaving examination requirements (Érettségi vizsgakövetelmények) as the primary content regulation documents. To pass the final end-of-course examination, teachers must answer 15 out of 20 questions correctly.

Restrictions on the use of mobile phones in schools

The government has issued a decree (245/2024. (VIII. 8.) Korm. rendelet) restricting the use of telecommunication devices, in particular mobile phones, as well as devices for recording images or sound, and smart devices for accessing the internet, in schools. The restriction means that from the 2024/2025 school year onwards, these devices may not be used during the day in grades 1-4 in primary schools, grades 5-12 in secondary schools and grades 9-13 in vocational secondary schools, and must be kept out of reach during classes in dormitories. The only exceptions to this rule are those classes and activities where the teacher or the school head authorises their use.

The use of mobile phones by teachers has also been regulated (20/2012. (VIII. 31.) EMMI rendelet), according to which during classes and other educational activities, as well as when supervising students, teachers may use their mobile phones and other digital and info-communication devices for educational purposes only.

Supporting the acquisition of driving licences in secondary schools

From 1 September 2024, the state will provide free of charge to secondary school students the basic knowledge and practical skills needed to pass the test for a category B driving licence. The central digital study registration system will provide students with online access to course material on the basic traffic knowledge, including first aid, which they can complete at home on their own IT devices outside school hours. The exams are also organised by the secondary schools through the study registration system. First aid demonstration sessions are provided by the Hungarian National Ambulance Service.

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 school. School heads 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).

Increasing support for student sport and strengthening the impact of physical education

For 2024, the government has allocated an additional HUF 2.7 billion to support student sport. And due to the deteriorating fitness levels of students, the system of daily physical education in schools will be tightened from the start of the 2024/25 school year, with the exception of certified elite athletes, by removing the possibility of replacing two of the five compulsory physical education classes per week with additional physical education in the afternoon, such as recreational sports or folk dance. This change was made possible by the May amendment of the Public Education Act (Act CXC of 2011 on National Public Education) (Act XXV of 2024 amending the Acts supporting the provision of tasks in the internal affairs sector).

The digitalisation of public education

The series of purchases launched in 2022 continues, with the government distributing a total of 579,000 notebooks to schools (524,000 to students and 55,000 to teachers) by 31 December 2025. After 120,000 in the first year and 140,000 last autumn, a further 193,000 notebooks were distributed free of charge this spring, this time to students in fifth, sixth and ninth grades as well as to public education institutions. The state-of-the-art, touch-screen Dell, Asus, HP and Lenovo branded computers come with a three-year warranty. The promotion reaches more than 3,000 work places (schools) and targets not only public institutions but also church-run, national, municipal and private schools.