Changes in Education Funding in Hungary

Our study examines some of the key aspects of education funding in Hungary. The theme of this publication is a current issue because the financing of Hungarian education has been dramatically changed from October 2013 on. Enrolment-based funding has been replaced by the average salary-based normative support, and the new “teacher career model” has been introduced. The study demonstrates the changes in financing using a model school, the calculations being based on the Budget Act of each year. We look at the trends of the previous system of financing, analysing the data from 2003 to 2012. We can compare the new, average salary-based funding with the normative support in 2012. By comparing the two types of funding, we attempt to find out whether the changes in Hungarian public education represent an opportunity for true transformation or they will remain a mere alteration in the calculation method of funding.