The proposed new regulations are an irresponsible game with social benefits and services for children. The government is restricting basic rights, and, by obliging parents (to use the pre-school system) it degrades the institution of welfare benefits to a simple punitive tool in the hands of the government, while ignoring basic needs of children.

Non-profit organizations dealing in children’s education issues and poverty have condemned the government’s proposed bill that would oblige citizens receiving family benefits after small children (családi pótlék) to provide proof that their three- to six-year-olds are regularly attending public pre-school facilities from September 2015.

State secretary of the Ministry of Human Resources Katalin Novád told public television’s morning political program that “the objective of the new regulation is to further ensure the security of the children , as it offers a lot of help so the children can be involved in public education right from the age of three, as well as being provided hot food three times a day.”

Under the current provision, pre-school is optional in Hungary for children between the age of 3 and 6.

Chance for Children and Anti-Poverty Network issued a joint statement on Thursday, in which they write that “what is happening now is the exact opposite of development in the social sphere. The proposed new regulations are an irresponsible game with social benefits and services for children. The government is restricting basic rights, and, by obliging parents (to use the pre-school system) it degrades the institution of welfare benefits to a simple punitive tool in the hands of the government, while ignoring basic needs of children”.

The statement argues that making welfare benefits “rewards” for attending public education is unacceptable, especially in light of the fact that the real value of the benefits is rapidly decreasing, losing 20% since 2008. Yet the already enacted 2015 budget does not contain any plans for raising the amount of benefits. According to the NGOs this means that the amount of social support for families with infants has remained unchanged for 6 years now, while prices are constantly rising and the job market is shrinking.

They add: “For a three-year-old child, attending pre-school is not an essential need. What they need instead is an appropriate and safe environment ensuring their healthy progress.

“Instead of further sanctions, the government should ensure the right for social security in the form of legislation, and should think in the frameworks of accessible essential services to be provided for all children.”

Referenced in this article:

http://adozona.hu/altalanos/Kisgyermekesek_figyelem_Valtozik_a_csaladi__H3EVC4.aspx#rss

http://index.hu/chart/2014/11/20/elkeseritoek_a_szegenyseg_legujabb_adatai/

http://www.gyere.net/downloads/GYEREK%20VAGYOK_20141120j.pdf