Funded by HEFOP-2004-3.1.1, the main objectives of the research and development program carried out parallel with the longitudinal programme is to develop, test and analyze the efficiency of teaching methods that may contribute to tackling some well-known bottlenecks of the Hungarian educational system. The program is primarily carried out in schools where the number of disadvantaged students is higher than the average.

Developing methods of motivational teaching and learners’ motivation, creating a positive attitude towards schools, establishing appealing learning situations and activities and developing methods that facilitate the catching up of children left behind form the core of the program. The program is run by the joint efforts of numerous researchers and teachers.

Participating schools

21 elementary schools participated in the program with 373 classes and 8272 students. 

Developmental programs

The research aims at developing learning and instruction methods that help disadvantaged students (socially disadvantaged students and students with special needs) to improve, pursue better achievement, and overcome social disadvantages. Our major objective was to develop students’ motivation to learn, to create a positive attitude towards schools, education, and learning. Furthermore, a special emphasis was put on making up for students’ shortcomings by creating attractive learning situations, environments, activities and tasks. 

The developmental programs were carried out in elementary education. When designing and developing the programs we drew on our previous research results and experience on the development of reasoning and learning skills, and factors influencing students’ progress, the principles of direct and indirect development and their impact was examined within the framework of experimental and control group experiments.