$850 reward for minorities to learn Ukrainian unacceptable: Hungary FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Mar 21:09

While Ukrainian children were enrolled in over 1,200 kindergartens and schools across the Hungarian State, Ukraine on the other hand was preparing to close down all 99 Hungarian minority schools in September of 2022

Peter Szijjarto speaking before the parliament on March 6, 2023. (Government agencies)

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Monday that Budapest considers it unacceptable that Ukrainian state institutions are willing to pay $850 a year to Hungarians in the Zakarpattia region if children are sent to Ukrainian-language classes, noting that the move promises to be potentially harmful to national communities and minorities.

"While the European Union allocates several billion euros to support the functioning of the Ukrainian state, some Ukrainian state institutions promise support of 300,000 forints ($850) per year during four years to those families who enroll children not in minority classes, but in the classes of the Ukrainian state language. Obviously, this kind of step against national communities and minorities is unacceptable," Szijjarto told the parliament.

While Ukrainian children were enrolled in over 1,200 kindergartens and schools across the Hungarian State, Ukraine on the other hand was preparing to close down all 99 Hungarian minority schools in September of 2022, he added.

Moreover, Kiev is planning to limit the number of students taught in national languages to 20% after the fourth grade and ban the option of passing final and entrance exams in Hungarian, he further added.

Ukraine has been clamping down on minority communities inside the country. Enforcing what languages can be taught in schools.

Regional political disputes between Ukraine and Hungary are heated. Ultimately impacting the level of support 🇭🇺is willing to supply.
Delicate balance! pic.twitter.com/xf4dF5NrfT
— Albertarian (@Veteran4Freedom) February 12, 2023

In 2017, Ukraine introduced a law on education that limits opportunities for Hungarian minorities living in Ukraine to study in their native language.

Hungarian politicians have said that the law discriminates against the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine.

Reports later revealed that Hungarian flags were removed from public institutions in the Ukrainian city of Mukachevo and that several directors of Hungarian institutions linked to the Hungarian Cultural Association of Zakarpattia were fired.