Before the communist assumption of power in 1947, religion was the primary determine on education. The Roman Catholic Church sponsored and controlled most schools, although some other religious denominations and government ran some schools. The social and material status of students strongly determined the type and extent of schooling they received. Education above the elementary level was generally available only to the social elite of the nation. In secondary and higher-level schools, a mere 5 % of the students came from worker or peasant families. Only about 1 or 2 % of all students entered higher education.

Schooling is compulsory for all children in Hungary from the age of 6 through 16. The literacy rate in Hungary stands at 100 % of the adult population. Primary education is free, and the government pays the bulk of the cost of secondary and higher education. The educational system consists of general, or primary, schools, which comprise the first eight grades; secondary grammar schools for academic work; technical schools; and institutions of higher learning. Emphasis is placed on vocational training and on education in technical subjects.