IV news:
The International Association for Christian Education study trip to Budapest / Hungary took place from October 8 to 11. First of all, it was a successful trip with many interesting encounters. This is true even though the travelling group was quite small. Participants from Cameroon, Finland, Northern Ireland, Tanzania, the Netherlands and Germany were part of the group. However, only men and among them only one active principal.
The visit to the small Hungarian Lutheran church with only 200,000 members was organised with great care and attention to detail. Everywhere, the visitors were warmly welcomed, and people took the time to meet and talk. Many thanks at this point, especially to the Lutheran Church’s Pedagogical Institute staff! We were able to visit a large, newer school in Aszód(http://www.egaaszod.hu/ ) and a traditional grammar school(https://www.fasori.hu/ ) in Budapest itself, as well as a kindergarten(https://evangelikusovi.hu/ ) in Szentendre. Everywhere we went, it was clear how closely the Lutheran identity is linked to its educational institutions and how strongly the church focuses on education. After all, the small church runs 53 educational institutions in the country.
The program was lined with a presentation of the institute, a night tour of the city and educational sessions by the head of the institute, György Sziráki. The small delegation could visit lessons in both schools and talk to pupils and the school management.
As a participant, I was very pleased to have this opportunity and hope that these trips can continue to take place for more intensive exchanges with each other, coupled with getting to know an education system in another country.
Principal Rev. Mark Meinhard, Nuremberg
