Hungary Tightens Control Over School Textbooks, Sparking Teacher Concerns
Budapest, Hungary - hungarian teachers are facing increasingly strict regulations limiting classroom materials to only state-issued textbooks, a move sparking criticism from educators who fear it will stifle professional freedom and potentially compromise educational quality. The restrictions come as the government expands a program providing free textbooks to all students, but teachers argue the benefits are outweighed by the loss of autonomy.For years, educators and parents have independently purchased supplemental textbooks deemed more suitable for student needs, often utilizing state-issued books alongside option materials.Though,several institutions have recently clarified that only officially approved textbooks are permitted for direct classroom instruction.The Teachers‘ Union has voiced strong opposition, arguing the new rules “effectively eliminate professional freedom and pose a risk to the quality of education.”
“Legally,we’re supposed to teach only from the books on the official list,but there are ‘under-the-radar’ options,” a secondary school teacher from Pest County told Népszava. “As an exmaple, I don’t use textbooks at all-something I’m allowed to do as a teacher.I can prepare with any material I want, make copies, and bring them to class as practice exercises.” This flexibility, however, is now under threat.
The government defends the centralized system, highlighting the financial relief offered by its free textbook program. For the 2025/2026 school year, 13 million textbooks have been ordered to benefit over 1.2 million students. Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Rétvári Bence, pointed out that textbook costs previously amounted to “tens of thousands” of Hungarian Forints (HUF) per family.
While acknowledging the financial benefits of free textbooks, critics maintain that the restrictions on textbook choice remain a significant concern, limiting educators’ ability to tailor learning materials to individual student needs. The centralized growth and distribution of textbooks effectively confines teachers to a pre-approved list, even if alternative resources might be more effective.
