Education policy in Slovakia in regard to the teaching of Hungarian and other minority languages requires further European attention

The Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) strongly supports the efforts of its member organisation MKP-SMK (Party of the Hungarian Community) to improve the quality of education for the minorities in Slovakia, and in particular for the Hungarian minority. A recent reform of the curriculum in minority schools is leading to a serious decrease in the number of class hours in the minority language. According to Member of Parliament for MKP-SMK Pál Csáky:

“Slovakia decided to take targeted steps against minority schools. These measures are clearly of discriminatory character and go against the European values of multilingualism and multiculturalism, therefore the European Commission should step forward.”

In response First Vice President Frans Timmermans of the Commission wrote first of all that he does not have the power to act, but he also wrote the following:

“Let me [...] say that I strongly believe in the protection of minorities, minority rights and minority languages and that I am very sympathetic to your cause. I agree with you that the values of multilingualism and multiculturalism are a part of the European heritage and they should guide the EU.” 

FUEN is deeply concerned about the education situation for the minorities in Slovakia. It has noticed that more than 26 thousand citizens have signed a petition, protesting against the new education policy of the Slovakian government. Because of its concerns, FUEN recently sent a letter to Mr Juraj Draxler, Minister of Education of the Slovak Republic, about the recent reforms of the curriculum in minority schools that leads to a serious decrease in the number of class hours in the minority language. 

In the letter FUEN expressed its concern, and called on the government of the Slovak Republic to recognise, protect and support the linguistic and cultural diversity of the autochthonous national minorities in Slovakia as an asset and enrichment of social life in their country. FUEN encourages the Slovak Republic to take political decisions as close as possible to its citizens, to take account of the petition on this matter and to engage in a dialogue with those who submitted the petition.

Education Minister Draxler failed to respond to the substantive demands of the petitioners. In his reply to FUEN he asserted that the total number of class hours is higher than for schools with Slovak as language of instruction, but the Minister did not explain why the decision to limit the number of optional class hours (which are normally used in minority schools to enhance the learning of the mother tongue) was taken.

FUEN Vice President Loránt Vincze is not satisfied with the response by Minister Draxler:

“FUEN appreciates the prompt reply of the Minister. However, we do not consider the response satisfying and therefore we consider that the issue of Hungarian minority education requires further European attention.”

The next meeting of the Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages of the European Parliament will take place in Strasbourg next week. During the meeting on 8 October 2015, the situation of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia will be discussed, including a proposal by MKP-SMK for a detailed legal, financial and institutional system for minority rights protection in Slovakia.