It is hard not to smile when surrounded by young children. Nurseries are places filled with laughter, play and storytelling, but behind these joyful moments are dedicated, patient and highly skilled early childhood educators. To help ensure that nurseries continue to have enough qualified professionals, the “Incentive Support for Early Childhood Educators in Secondary or Higher Education” programme, implemented under the Human Resources Development Operational Programme Plus (HRDOP Plus), provides scholarships to nearly 2,000 future educators as they work towards their qualifications.
The initiative, managed by the Hungarian State Treasury, has already provided financial support to 1,995 students thanks to European Union funding. The programme is open to students living in Hungary’s less developed regions who are enrolled in vocational secondary education programmes for childcare and early childhood education or pursuing a bachelor’s degree in infant and early childhood education.
Participants can receive financial assistance for up to 20 months. Students in vocational secondary education are eligible for a monthly scholarship of HUF 59,000, while those studying towards a bachelor’s degree can receive HUF 125,000 per month. The benefits of this support extend well beyond graduation. As a condition of receiving the scholarship, participants commit to taking up or continuing employment in nursery childcare services once they have completed their studies. In this way, the programme supports both those choosing a career in early childhood education and the long-term future of nursery provision. Its aim is to ensure that existing and newly established nurseries have access to qualified staff, so that the number of trained professionals keeps pace with the expansion of childcare places.
| The “Incentive Support for Early Childhood Educators in Secondary or Higher Education” initiative contributes to the objectives of the Family and Youth Development priority under EFOP Plus. It is also part of a strategically important Pillar identified for the 2021–2027 development period. The project is being implemented with a total of HUF 6 billion in non-repayable EU and Hungarian funding under the Széchenyi Plan Plus programme, with the support of the European Union. |
Every day brings new stories, both in nurseries and in life. This programme helps ensure that, as the youngest children take their first steps into the world, there will be caring, dedicated and well-trained professionals by their side, ready to guide and support them through these important early years.
