Pluralism and values in education in Hungary – changes between 1990 and 2012

Abstract

Value transmission is a fundamental task of schools. However, the question arises as to how far prevailing political and social conditions shape the functioning of a country or a region's school system. In other words: what effect do they have on the choice of values to be transmitted at schools? Are there any fundamental social values that are shared by different cultures at different times? Are there values that exist independently of social and political systems? These questions have a special relevance in Eastern and Central European countries like Hungary where political and social changes in the twentieth century had a crucial effect on the set of values that were transmitted by the school system. The aim of this study is to describe how the value transmitting role of the Hungarian school system has changed as a consequence of political transformations in recent decades.

The relationship between internationalisation, creativity and transformation: A case study of higher education in Hungary

“…A brief overview of the Hungarian educational context: Transformation, diversity and creativity Zsolnai and Lesznyák (2015) explore the link between political changes, education and values in Hungary from 1990 to 2012. After the transition (the post-1989 period following the fall of Communism), they describe a 'crisis of values' followed by an increase in decentralisation, democracy and autonomy.…”

“…Post 2012, Hungarian education has become more centralised again, and Zsolnai and Lesznyák (2015) pose the question whether post-communist humanistic and democratic values will remain. In the South African context, Du Preez et al (2016) suggest that the transformation of higher education should help create greater access to disadvantaged groups, internationalisation should be a key factor of transformation and that transformation is not simply a goal in itself, but a way of improving and creating a more equitable society.…”