Reasons for delays to bursaries for the disadvantaged
17.8.2015
Question for written answer E-012101-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
István Ujhelyi (S&D)
The Roma Press Centre reports that delays have occurred in paying bursaries to disadvantaged students. Under the ‘Út a szakmaválasztáshoz’ programme, financed by the EU and worth HUF 6 billion, disadvantaged students who quality for it on the basis of their performance in education or training may receive a bursary of as much as HUF 25 000 per month. The aim of the programme is to ensure that the young people in question can study for a profession after leaving school. According to media reports about the matter, there are young people who are training to become police officers and achieving excellent results who have only received a bursary once in two years. According to these reports, in many cases school mentors/teachers too either only receive the support to which they are entitled belatedly or else do not receive it at all. The press reports that the Ministry of National Economic Affairs, which is responsible, blames teachers, saying that the delays are occurring because the certificates issued are faulty.
— How does the Commission monitor the implementation and success of this programme?
— Has the Commission investigated the success and functioning of the Hungarian programme and disbursements under it, or is it doing so?
— How effective does the Commission consider the ‘Út a szakmaválasztáshoz’ programme to be, in relation to its purpose?