Bilingual education in focus as minister visits minority in Hungary
Felsőszölnök/Szentgotthard, 16 May - After having met Hungarian officials in Budapest, Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon on Tuesday visited the region in Hungary where the Slovenian minority lives. Bilingual education topped the agenda
The minister visited two bilingual primary schools, in Szentgotthárd and Felsőszölnök, where the head teachers presented the conditions, and held talks with minority officials.
The minority reported that they are trying to find ways to secure a sufficient number of bilingual teachers. Arčon expressed his support for their efforts, according to the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad.
Bilingual instruction is available from kindergarten through secondary school, and there are some Slovenian study programmes at universities in Budapest and Szombathely.
Nevertheless, bilinguality at these institutions is still behind the level provided in bilingual schools in Slovenia, in areas where the Hungarian minority live, the office said.