Scores of afterschool programs designed to help disadvantaged children with their studies will likely close after their applications for EU development funds were rejected by the Ministry for Human Resources 18 months after the official deadline for doing so.

Although the list of winners has yet to be released, many applicants were recently notified that they had been rejected, including scores of organizations that had previously qualified for state funding. Out of 1077 applications, only 177 programs are to receive HUF 25-30 million (USD 90,000-110,000) each to help cover operating expenses for two years.

Those applying for the development funds within the framework of the HUF 5.3 billion (USD 19.6 million) human resource development operative program (EFOP) specifically created to help fund afterschool programs had to wait one and a half years to lean the results of the tender.

Rejected were the applications of numerous NGOs that have successfully operated afterschool programs, including Nora L. Ritók’s True Pearl Foundation (“Igazgyöngy Foundation”) which operates three such programs in north Hungary.

“It’s shocking that the leading afterschool study programs did not win the tender—those from which everyone has learned so much,” said Norbert Szűcs of Tanodaplatform, an umbrella organization. “I cannot say whether (this was deliberate) or the system for evaluating applications was faulty, but the fact that this circle is excluded from supports will cause enormous damage to afterschool study programs.”

Out of 86 afterschool study programs belonging to Tanodaplatform, 48 applied for funds. Six were successful.

The loss of state supports will cause a serious crisis for these child development programs that depend on project finance. Szűcs believes that the programs operated by churches will be able to continue on a smaller scale, but smaller programs are likely to close. He says that for the ministry to reject so many applications after keeping applicants waiting for 18 months is a “fiasco” and sends the message that “their work is pointless”.

“I don’t think that we messed something up professionally. My colleagues wrote the applications to the best of their abilities,” says Nóra L. Ritók. Her True Pearl Foundation operates some of the most successful afterschool study programs in the country and is highly respected. None of its programs applying for state funds were among the winners. The failure puts them into a difficult situation. Her foundation’s afterschool program in the northern Hungarian town of Told needs to somehow cover the wages and travel expenses of four child development teachers amounting to HUF 10 million (USD 37,000) a year.

Although information about the winners has yet to be released, the heads of the unsuccessful programs suspect a number of programs won that were only launched in the recent past and lack the requisite experience to ensure that such funds are put to proper use.

“In such a situation when the maintenance of segregated education is the subject of EU infringement procedures against Hungary, it is especially sad that they pulled out the rug from under the feet of experienced afterschool study programs,” said Ritók.

Source: The Budapest Beacon

Republished with permission