‘I went to the ministry in the capital, I’ve tried to talk to someone because when we send a letter, they haven’t replied for it. The minister’s secretary told me via the security, that the decision has been made, there’s nothing to do. I was shocked’ – a parent Emese Kovácsné Kulik told Hódpress about the closing of their school. She lives in Mártély, a small village near Hódmezővásárhely with 1,3000 inhabitants. Their primary school now only has the first four classes already, but this year it’s ceasing also.
The parents are outraged because they say: they have enough number of students according to the lay. The settlement has initiated an investigation by the ombudsman of basic rights. It is still processing, but the ombudsman has no time limit to get its results. Sources near the local council told that they think it’s political revenge against the village’s independent mayor Anita Putz. Ms. Putz has tried to ask the region’s pro-governmental MP János Lázár for help, but she has failed.
Mr. Lázár claimed in a radio interview, that the mayor shouldn’t make a political issue from the school closing because the reason was that the parents do not send their children to the local school. This was the key argument of the ministry and the school maintenance center too. Our source said, the parents would have demand for the school, but just if they don’t have to be afraid of closing each year.
After all, this September, the school of Mártély won’t open on the first day of the school year. All the parents have chosen other institutions, but they are disappointed. They hope the school can reopen next year. But they also add, that if they would take back their children to the local school if it would succeed, that will be their decision too.