The OECD Education at a Glance 2023 report presents the performance of education systems in a global context.

It shows that the employment rate of people aged 25-34 with professional qualifications in Hungary “is exceptionally high”, with the country coming third after Norway and Iceland, the culture and innovation ministry said.

Fully 38% of 24-34-year-olds obtain a vocational diploma and are less exposed to the risk of unemployment than those with general secondary education, and can expect a 31% higher salary, the ministry said in a statement.

Vocational Education and Training in Hungary

Previously, Vocational education and training in Hungary had been in a state of flux since the political and economic changes of 1989, reports Cedefop.

"The 2000's brought two fundamental reforms: introduction of a competence-based, modular qualification structure and ongoing corresponding renewal of curricula, and concentration of the extremely fragmented institutional system into regional integrated vocational training centres.

At the same time, however, mainly due to low prestige of blue-collar jobs and much higher returns to general education, young people only choose skilled workers’ training as a last resort. Adult learning rates are also persistently well below the EU average."

Therefore this new OECD Ranking result is a real achievement.

Cedefop’s analyses and research have improved understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of VET systems and provided insights into VET’s social, economic and personal benefits.

With regards to Hungary, the agency states that actors in the economy had long expressed discontent with the quality and quantity of skilled workers.

"As a result, in the past decade VET policy has continuously strengthened the role of social partners and, in particular, the chambers.

Since 2010, the new administration has been devoted to increasing the latter’s role further and now places more emphasis on practical training, while allowing VET to start at an earlier age.

The ultimate goal is to increase the attractiveness of VET and raise the proportion of students studying in vocational programmes," Cedefop concluded. Now that aim is being realised according to the OECD.

MTI Photo: Tibor Illyés