According to Zsolt Nyitrai, the Prime Minister’s appointee responsible for priority social affairs, supporting families is “the very soul of civic governance”.
In a video message posted on the government’s Facebook account, Mr Nyitrai said this is especially important on 1 September when 1.2 million pupils and students start their studies in some 3,000 institutions,
Minister of State for Family and Youth Affairs at the Ministry of Human Capacities Katalin Novák highlighted that also this year the government is assisting families raising children at the start of the school year. From this school year, all children in public education receive textbooks free of charge. The government is continuously increasing the funds available for meals for children, and as a result, a very large number of children in creches, nursery schools and primary schools are eligible for discount or free meals, she listed.
She added that the government is also supporting disadvantaged families financially at the start of the school year. The family allowances due in September were transferred early.
“The September start of the school year is a challenge for all families, in particular this year when we must also face the coronavirus epidemic, and must rise to the challenges caused by the epidemic,” the Minister of State said.
She stressed that they would pay attention to ensuring that the disease control regulations are observed in every instance and that institutions adapt to the changing regulations continuously and flexibly because the goal is to guarantee maximum safety for children attending creches, nursery schools and primary schools, whilst allowing them to be in the company of others and to have access to the body of knowledge that will make them competitive later in life.
Nóra Király, founder of the Club for Young Families said the aid package provided by the government at the beginning of September offers families savings in the magnitude of around a hundred thousand forints which is “an enormous help”.
From among the various benefits available to families, she mentioned the supply of free textbooks, as well as free or discount meals which are available to eligible children throughout the year.