Hungarian-language education is key to the nation’s future, the state secretary for policies for Hungarian communities abroad in Martovce (Martos) in southern Slovakia said on Friday.
“Our mother tongue is the source of all our values and our strength”, declared Árpád János Potápi during the inauguration of the new premises of the Esterházy Academy built with the support of the Hungarian government. “We are convinced that the newly inaugurated buildings will enhance the attractiveness of the intellectual hub being created in Martovce.”
Potápi said Esterházy Academy was part of an institutional system that had been built up over the past 12 years, noting that it offered Hungarian language education from preschool to university level.
“With the academy, we have opened a gateway to public life for future generations,” Potápi said, adding that a strong presence in public life and a commitment to national values ensured that ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia could stay in their homeland.
The operator of the Esterházy Academy, the Marthos Civic Association, received a total of 25 million forints (67,400 euros) in support from the Hungarian government over the two years 2020 and 2021, Potápi said.
Photo courtesy of Attila Kovacs/MTI
