“Experts from the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will in future become involved in the work of the Roundtable for Public Education”, Minister of State Bence Rétvári from the Ministry of Human Capacities told Hungarian news agency MTI on Friday.
Negotiations have been ongoing for weeks about how the OECD could aid the work of the Roundtable for Public Education with its expert knowledge and international experience, Mr. Rétvári said. Thanks to the talks, OECD experts are expected to be present at the upcoming session of the Roundtable in two weeks’ time, he added.
The experts will primarily be presenting the strengths and weaknesses of the Hungarian education system in comparison to data on other countries, based on the organisation’s previous research. In addition, there is a possibility that the OECD may prepare more detailed analyses with regard to two or three important topics and that it may compile a closing report of a strategic nature based on the Roundtable’s discussions.
Mr. Rétvári also told the press that the compilation of the list of tasks for the Public Education Roundtable and the setting up of working groups had both been developed while taking into account the education-related sections of previous OECD country reports. It is important that we acquire a realistic picture of other countries’ education systems, “it is in international comparison that we can evaluate Hungarian data”, he added, noting that the Government hopes the presentation of international examples and good practices can help improve the international competitiveness of young people exiting the Hungarian education system.
During talks on the possible involvement of the OECD, the organisation’s Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher welcomed the Hungarian initiative, the Minister of State said. One of the greatest challenges of the modern age is the need to operate education institutions that are built around student studies, he added.