Teaching about the Genocide of the Roma

 Inclusion of the topic in the school curriculum

The Ministry of Education reported that the topic of the Holocaust is included in the history curriculum and partially in courses on literature, social sciences, art and ethics. Some schools offer options where the topic is elaborated in greater detail. Students initially learn about the Holocaust at the age of 14 and then in subsequent years through secondary school curricula. Hungarian non-governmental institutions also undertake informal education projects.

 Inclusion of the topic in the school textbooks

School textbooks:

Hegedűs, Sándor: Cigány kronológia (Gipsy Chronology). Konsept-H Publishing House, 2004. (For elementary schools).

Hegedűs, Sándor: Cigányábrázolás a magyar költészetben (Gipsy portraits in Hungarian poetry). Konsept-H Publishing House, 2004. (For high schools).

Ligeti, György: Cigány népismereti tankönyv 7-12. osztály számára (Textbook about the Roma people). Konsept-H Publishing House, 2004. (For high schools, grades 7-12).

An article about the topic:

Tamás Terestyéni: Fekete pont. A középiskolai történelem és társadalomismeret tankönyvek tartalmai, Beszélő, 2004/5.

Educational auxiliaries:

Dupcsik, Csaba: A Roma Holokauszt az Oktatásban (The Roma Genocide in the education)

This essay aims to aid high school teachers in their teaching of the Roma Genocide.

Daróczy, Ágnes; Bársony, János; Fátyol Mihály: Pharrajimos - A romák sorsa a nácizmus idején (Porrajmos - Fate of the Roma in the days of Nazism). L’Harmattan, 2004

Katz, Katalin: Visszafordított emlékezet (Memory turned back). Pont, 2005.

Fraser, Sir Angus: A cigányok (The Roma). Osiris, 1996.

Bernáth, Gábor (ed.): Roma holocaust. Roma Holocaust túlélők emlékeznek (Survivors of Roma Genocide)

“Holocaust and its teaching” (Holokauszt és holokausztoktatás) - Interview with Mónika Kovács

 Training of teachers and education professionals

In 2012, European workshop, titled “Passing on the Remembrance of the Holocaust and prevention of crimes against humanity: a cross-cutting approach” took place in Tirana from 5 to 8 September. At the event school teachers from Albania, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Portugal and Slovenia joined to a group of experts to discuss the topic. Hungary has been represented by Zoltán Sallai (Ady Endre Grammar School, Budapest) and Zsolt Vódli (Sopron). Experiences gained in teaching the theme in schools, relevant methodology and school programs were exchanged. It was agreed that the dialogue on “Film and the Holocaust” and “The visit to an authentic place of remembrance” topics provided further inspiration to the methodology of teaching about Holocaust.

Teachers’ trainings:

Educational Authority – operator of Teacher Training Register

Dr. Peter Heindl and Margit Koczor: Független Pedagógiai Intézet (Independent Pedagogical Institute): Multicultural Teacher’s Training.

 Particular activities undertaken at the level of education institutions

The Ministry of Education and the Hannah Arendt Association offer in-service teaching seminars and educational workshops. According to state authorities, approximately 150 teachers take advantage of the training opportunities annually (see “OSCE report Education on the Holocaust and on Anti-Semitism: An Overview and Analysis of Educational Approaches”, page 88).

The inclusion of the Holocaust in school education in Hungary is ensured by the government through the rigorous accreditation of the curriculum, textbooks and other teaching materials. As a result, teaching on the Holocaust forms part of a number of different subjects, including history, civics, literature, language, ethics and general classes.  

Since 2000 and 2001, Holocaust Memorial Day has been observed in secondary schools. The Hungarian Government supports school activities related to the commemoration of the Holocaust. Since the establishment of Holocaust Memorial Day, there has been strong cooperation between schools and the government with regard to Holocaust education (see “OSCE report Holocaust Memorial Days: An overview of remembrance and education in the OSCE region”, page 53).