Hungarian Government to Distribute 125,000 More Laptops to Students by December

Budapest: Another 125,000 Hungarian students will receive laptops by December as part of a government initiative aimed at enhancing digital accessibility in education, Bence Rétvári, the parliamentary state secretary of the Ministry of the Interior and vice-president of the KDNP, announced on Monday. The effort involves a significant investment of HUF 32 billion to ensure high-quality internet connections and the provision of modern educational tools to students across Hungary.

According to KDNP, Rétvári emphasized the critical need for students to access digital content, especially in an era where education is increasingly intertwined with digital technology. He pointed out that the initiative, which had initially been planned to utilize European Union funds, will now be fully supported by the state budget after the EU did not allocate recovery funds for this purpose. Rétvári criticized the EU’s decision, stating that it reflected an undervaluation of Hungarian students’ needs for technological support.

Th
e distribution program is not new; it builds on a broader effort that has already seen 453,000 laptops handed out, including 55,000 to teachers, and has benefited about 3,000 schools. Beyond hardware, the program supports the development of digital content, with a growing array of interactive smart textbooks and resources available through the national public education portal, which has seen 200 million downloads and extensive usage in classrooms.

Further enhancing the government’s role in supporting citizens, Zsolt Nyitrai, chief adviser to the prime minister, highlighted various initiatives demonstrating the government’s commitment to a service-oriented approach. These include the Caring Hour program, which aids individuals over 65 in emergencies, and free digital citizenship services, among others. Nyitrai’s remarks underscored the government’s efforts to listen to and meet the needs of its citizens through continuous dialogue and tailored policies.

Gabriella Hajnal, president of the Klebelsberg Center,
also spoke about the smooth implementation of the laptop distribution program, which now extends from grades 5-12. She assured that every student who requested a laptop has received one, and additional devices are available at schools for those who did not request them. The devices provided are hybrid tablet-laptops, equipped with Windows operating systems, and come with accessories like a bag and a mouse, ensuring that students are well-equipped for modern educational demands.