School choice
Program schedule
To view the schedule click here.
Objectives of the Program
of the Programme is to encourage and stimulate Hungarian or partly Hungarian families living in foreign areas to choose a Hungarian-language school for their Hungarian-speaking children who will be attending Hungarian schools. Choosing Hungarian schools ensures the survival of Hungarian communities by passing on the Hungarian language and culture, and provides children with more knowledge and a greater sense of connection through the education of two languages and two cultures.
Regions involved
In Slovakia, Zakarpattya oblast (Ukraine) and Croatia all territories, regions are covered by the Programme where families with hungarian identity live. In Transylvania and Partium the following counties are covered by the Programme Arad, Bistrita-Nasaud, Bihor, Alba, Hunedoara, Caras-Severin, Maramures, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Timis as well as several micro-regions: The so-called Csángó land in Bacau, the region of Dej and Turda in Cluj county, and the region of Reghin in Mures county.
School bus
12 reasons to choose Hungarian schools
1. Heritage
Hungarian-language education is the guarantee of the subsistence of the Hungarian community.
3. Identity
Hungarian-language education develops a secure identity for the child, assisting him or her in feeling at home in the immediate and broader community, thus the entire Carpathian Basin.
5. Advancements
Given that the Hungarian-language school provides excess information and knowledge by teaching two language and culture, it brings about better social advancement.
7. Effectiveness
It is a scientifically proven fact that learning in the mother tongue is the most effective method of acquiring knowledge.
9. Possibilities
The Hungarian higher education system and labour market will become easily accessible for a child attending a Hungarian-language school.
11. Activities
The Rákóczi Association’s activities targeted at the Hungarian community of the Carpathian Basin will become accessible to pupils of Hungarian schools.
2. Community
The Hungarian school has a key role in the survival of the Hungarian communities.
4. Exclusivity
One may master Hungarian language and culture only in a Hungarian school.
6. Cultural diversity
A Hungarian school is the best choice also for a child raised in a mixed family even if the parent did not attend a Hungarian school.
8. Competitiveness
Hungarian schools convey competitive knowledge on account of their superior equipment and well-prepared faculties.
10. Support
Pupils attending Hungarian-language institutions are eligible for support from the Hungarian state each year.
12. Gift
The Rákóczi Association offers a high-quality schoolbag and a scholarship symbolizing Hungarian unity to all pupils enrolling to Hungarian-language schools.
Gólyahír Programme
In 2017, the Programme was extended with a new element, called the GÓLYAHÍR – Newborn Welcome Programme. The aim of the initiative is to reach out to Hungarian families abroad as soon as possible, as soon as their child is born. On this occasion, all families concerned can receive a baby diary entitled My First Book. The publication contains the most important information about the growth and development of the child and provides a creative platform for personalised documentation. The book’s special feature is that, in addition to the above, it also includes Hungarian culture and traditions, folk art, so that the child can hear the most beautiful stories, poems and folk songs in his or her mother tongue, and so that his or her birthday is counted among our national and religious traditions.
The volumes of My First Book are available to families at any time of the year after the birth of their child.
To find out from whom you can pick up a baby book in your municipality, please contact fazekas.kristof@rakocziszovetseg.hu!
Preschool gifts
Through its School Choice Campaign, the Rákóczi Association strives to encourage more families in the Carpathian Basin to choose a Hungarian school for their children during the enrolment period.
Addressing kindergarten children and their families directly
Every year, the programme addresses 22,000 Hungarian-speaking kindergartners with a symbolic gift during the Advent period, with a message and arguments encouraging parents to choose Hungarian schools.
Media campaign
Between January and March, immediately before school enrolments, the Rákóczi Association will send messages encouraging Hungarian school choice in online and offline media.
Mass events for kindergarteners and their parents
Between January and March, mass events are organised in the regional centres to raise awareness among kindergarten children and their parents about school choice.
Schoolbag for children enrolling in Hungarian schools
The Rákóczi Association is donating good quality schoolbags to children enrolling in Hungarian schools in spring.
Encouraging pre-school teachers, teachers
Weekend meetings are held every year involving more than 600 kindergarten teachers, where teachers are appreciated and the school choice campaign is discussed. Kindergartens can apply for funding for their community events related to school choice.
Welcome to Hungarian school!
After the start of school in September, the Rákóczi Association welcomes thousands of Hungarian school beginners from abroad, expressing its appreciation and thanks to their parents for choosing Hungarian schools.
Between September and December, the Association staff solemnly present the scholarship, which symbolizes the unity and appreciation of Hungarian society, at numerous locations for new school starters. The Hungarian School Choice Program is backed by a broad social coalition. Supporters include around five hundred local governments in Hungary, private individuals, public figures, and foundations. The tradition of welcoming new students begins with the national opening ceremony of Hungarian schools in Slovakia and concludes in Léván, in Upper Hungary, in mid-December.
Tender documents 2025:
Administration
Beneficiaries of the Hungarian School Choice Programme – whether they are families with babies, pre-school or primary school children and their families – can always apply for the benefits offered by the different programmes (My First Book baby diary, Christmas gift, schoolbag, scholarship).
The Rákóczi Association’s target fund network in Upland, its regional partners in Transcarpathia, Transcarpathia, Vojvodina and Croatia are involved in filling in and submitting the application forms.
For our partners, we have created an online administration platform where they can manage their local application quickly, conveniently and paperlessly. The interface can be accessed using the identification data (username, password) created by the Rákóczi Association’s central office. To open the “MIP interface”, click on the button below!