A manifestation of language policy in Hungary - the bilingual education of minority language speakers

Abstract

The present study focuses on the aspect bilingual education in Hungary when bilingual schools use one of the minority languages for teaching. The bilingual education for students whose native language is different from the majority language of the country is essential for the equal chance of academic achievement but for the better career perspectives majority language development has an equal importance. Therefore, bilingual schools are necessary for those students who live in an ethnic minority group in the country. Though most minority groups have chance to attend bilingual education, many, especially one of the largest minority groups in Hungary, the Gypsy population have access only to language lessons as a counterpart of monolingual education that does not provide the same chances of academic success and the preservation of native language and culture. This study gives an insight of the availability of bilingual schools for the minority language speaker students both in respect of languages involved and their location and investigate how the presence of bilingual schools correspond to the educational needs of minority groups.