Once again, the II. Rákóczi Ferenc Secondary School in Munkács (Mukachevo) in Transcarpathia, Ukraine has been subjected to an attack by the municipal authorities. An ethnic Ukrainian, Marija Pauk has been appointed to head the Hungarian institution, despite her having no connection to the Hungarian community or the school itself. The school has indicated in a public statement on social media that it will stand its ground. Index reached out to the school’s physics teacher, who revealed, among other things, how teachers received the news of the new principal’s appointment, what is known about the new director, and whose interest the change could serve.
In January, we already discussed the situation of the II. Rákóczi Ferenc Secondary School. Earlier this year, referring to a fresh decree, the Ukrainian police removed Hungarian flags from several public institutions in the town, including the Hungarian-language school. Furthermore, its director was dismissed overnight, without justification. The Mukachevo chapter of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (THCA/KMKSZ) issued a statement in the matter, stating that ‘in the current situation, it is believed that the dismissal of the head teacher does not serve the smooth operation of the Hungarian school and the peaceful coexistence between nationalities. Therefore, the organisation calls for an immediate review of the decision.’
According to an article published on Kárpátalja.ma, a Transcarpathian Hungarian online publication, the school’s ordeal continues as the institution announced on 15 August that Marija Pauk was appointed as the school’s head. She has no connection to the Hungarian community or the school. At the end of the post, the site noted that the school will continue to stand its ground.
Index contacted István Schink, the recently removed director of the school, who, given the circumstances, declined to respond to their questions. However, Krisztián Molnár, a physics teacher at the II. Rákóczi Ferenc Secondary School, spoke to Index and shared that the sudden removal of the former director was a shock for the teachers, but it was even less clear why Marija Pauk was chosen for the role. The teacher added, however, that he has information the incoming director previously held the same position at another school (Editor’s note: a kindergarten), where the staff was satisfied with her work. He also revealed that upon hearing the news, he briefly considered leaving the school, but his strong ties to the institution and his love for his work made him decide otherwise.
Among the parents, the arrival of the new head teacher was not met with great enthusiasm, either. It is quite clear from the countless comments on social media that no one understands the motive behind the appointment. For now, the idea of teachers or parents initiating protests has not been raised, but in the future, it is not ruled out that a demonstration may happen.
This latest incident is just
one in a series of hostile moves against the Hungarian community of Munkács.
In October 2022, the Ukrainian-majority Munkács city council decided to remove the Turul sculpture from the castle of the town, which had been re-erected in 2008, and replace it with a triple trident, the Ukrainian state emblem.
Index also asked about whose interest it might serve to appoint a Ukrainian director to a Hungarian school. Krisztián Molnár remarked that the decision was not made at the Ukrainian state level, but by the Mukachevo city council.
When asked about the possible consequences of the Ukrainian language law, Krisztián Molnár said that it is not excluded that from the next year, he might have to teach in Ukrainian. As he mentioned, the appointment of the new director could be part of the ‘Ukrainisation’ of the Hungarian school.
Earlier today, THCA issued a statement protesting the appointment, expressing their astonishment that the municipality saw it fit to appoint a new director while the court proceedings with regard to the unlawful dismissal of the previous head of the institutions is ongoing. The statement stressed that it is unacceptable that the appointment was done in an ‘ultimatum-like fashion’, without prior consultation with the faculty, the parents or the [ethnic Hungarian] interest groups.
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