Hungarian schools in Transcarpathia open the new school year
The new school year was officially opened for Hungarian schools in Transcarpathia during a central ceremony held on September 7 in Salánk, organized by the Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association (KMPSZ).
The event began with a worship service where the sermon was delivered by Attila Balogh, pastor of the Reformed Church of Salánk. This was followed by spiritual greetings from József Csirpák, Greek Catholic priest from Salánk, and János Molnár, episcopal vicar of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Munkács.
The ceremony continued with the singing of the Hungarian national anthem, the “Himnusz,” by all present. Following this, Gusztáv Székely, vice president of the KMPSZ and local history teacher, gave a detailed account of Salánk’s history. He explained that the area has been inhabited since the Hungarian conquest, with the first written mention of Salánk dating back to 1332, when it was described as a flourishing settlement. He also shared details about the Reformed Church hosting the school opening ceremony, which was built between 1395 and 1405 and has undergone several expansions over the years. The current form of the church was achieved after its renovation in 2019. The construction of the secondary school in the village was initiated by József Barta, the then headmaster of the school, and it is now in its 25th year, with 250 students. At the end of the summary, those present observed a minute’s silence in memory of József Barta, who died last year.
Following the historical presentation, Ildikó Orosz, president of the KMPSZ and Rákóczi College, greeted the attendees.
“‘Thus far the Lord has helped us!’ (1 Samuel 7:12) We too can say and profess this. Even in the third year of the war, we are still able to stand in God’s house and ceremonially celebrate the beginning of the school year for Hungarian-language schools,”
she said. She further emphasized that the children in these schools can benefit from in-person education, unlike in many other parts of Ukraine. She added that the KMPSZ (Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association) has once again made every effort this year to successfully implement all of its programs so that the children who remain here do not feel deprived and that their rights and opportunities are not diminished. The Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association organized its subject competitions in two rounds during the 2023-2024 school year. Events included the folk singing contest “Által mennék én a Tiszán…”, the Kazinczy Elocution Contest, the “Erdő mellett nem jó lakni…” folk song competition in Szolyva, the Transcarpathian Children’s Theatre Festival, and thematic camps with a history spanning three decades, in which thousands of children participated. In addition to events and programs for children, opportunities for teacher professional development were also provided. This year, the Kölcsey Teacher Academy was organized with the participation of approximately 165 teachers, and 40 000 Hungarian textbooks from Hungary were distributed to Transcarpathian Hungarian schools, supporting the work of teachers.
She also pointed out that due to the ongoing war, nearly 100 fewer students are attending schools compared to the previous year.
“Let’s realise that we are in the same boat. Let’s not kill each other, Let’s put in a good word. No one will be bigger, better or richer by trying to discredit the other. Let’s try to see that we have common interests. Our world lacks cohesion, and we shouldn’t look to politicians for solutions. Life is always at the lowest levels, where we need to be able to reach out to each other, to help each other”,
Ildikó Orosz concluded her speech, officially opening the 2024-2025 school year.
Following this, the first-grade students of the Mikes Kelemen Secondary School in Salánk presented a poetic and musical performance. Afterward, representatives of the historical churches invoked God’s blessing upon the lives of the students and teachers. Subsequently, Ildikó Orosz and Gusztáv Székely presented gift packages from KMPSZ to the young first graders.
“Many emotions are stirring within me right now, but perhaps the strongest is the excitement of being here for the first time as an MEP. Secondly, I am deeply moved to share in the joy and hope with all of you, as each school year opening proves that the pessimists are wrong and that there are still Hungarians in Transcarpathia. Moreover, not only are there Hungarians, but also children who can start the school year and prove to the skeptics that there will always be a Hungarian future in Transcarpathia. The Hungarian community here has always been known for its perseverance, for seeking solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Borders may have been drawn over our heads, and other states’ languages might have been imposed in our schools, but our Hungarian identity has survived these challenges. Hungarian pastors, doctors, lawyers, and farmers are here, and so are you, the organizers of Hungarian-language education, and at the beginning of September, the Hungarian schools in Transcarpathia have opened their doors.”
– highlighted Viktória Ferenc, MEP, and thanked the teachers for their sacrificial work, and wished the entire Hungarian community in Transcarpathia perseverance in these times of conflict.
Following this, the performance of the students from Art School in Verbőc brought Zalai folk songs to life. Their preparatory teacher was Magdolna Harangozó.
Additionally, the attendees were greeted by Márton Péti, vice president of the Research Institute for National Strategy (NSKI), who also conveyed greetings from president Jenő Szász. He highlighted that the NSKI and the Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association have been engaged in a successful collaboration for 10 years.
“Our experience shows that where there is education, there is preservation and there is a future,”
he added.
Next, we were treated to a violin performance by Emese Nagy, a student from theTulipán Tanoda Hungarian School of Folk Music and Folk Art, who played melodies from the Southern Transdanubia region. Her preparatory teacher was Anita Sarkadi.
“We, as teachers, start each school year in the name of God, preparing to educate new generations. This was the case centuries ago, and it is still the case today. Church and school. We still strive to create this unity. The motherland does everything it can to support Hungarians beyond the borders, but our survival also depends on us,”
said Gabriella Lukács, president of the Association of Hungarian Teachers in Vojvodina.
Then, Ildikó Orosz introduced the new teachers present, among whom Cintia Kutasi, an English teacher at Ferenc Kölcsey Primary and Secondary School in Péterfalva, shared her thoughts on their behalf. Following this, we enjoyed a performance by the Labdarózsa zither and vocal ensemble. Their preparatory teacher was Magdolna Harangozó.
Afterwards, the audience heard a speech by Klára Simon, a retired teacher who worked for many decades as a lower grades teacher at the Kelemen Mikes Secondary School in Salánk. She was followed by the students of the Secondary School in Salánk, whose performance made the atmosphere even more festive.
At the end of the event, István Schink, vice-president of the KMPSZ and director of the Ferenc Rákóczi II Secondary School in Munkács, who was awarded the Bonis Bona prize, gave a speech. István Schink began his closing speech with a quote from Attila József: “tell the truth, not just the reality…” The vice-president said that the Hungarian community of Munkács had managed to stand together, the teachers and parents had stood by him in the midst of his ordeal, and together they had stood up for what was right. In his closing speech, he wished everyone a peaceful and successful school year.
The ceremonial opening of the school year ended with the singing of the Szózat.
Anita Kurmay
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