Debrecen4U April 2, 2025

The gymnasium of the secondary school in Debrecen has been fully equipped and renovated

Students of the Trade and Hospitality Technical and Vocational School, as well as the young people of DSZC-Eötvös DSE (DSE is the abbreviated form of Student Sports Association in Hungarian), can now practice sports in a modern and equipped environment. The gymnasium of “Keri” (abbreviation in colloquial language for the Trade and Hospitality Technical and Vocational School) has been completely renovated, and energy development and numerous new teaching aids will also serve health education in the institution.

Last year, the approximately 600 square meter gymnasium of the Trade School and its associated rooms were renovated for almost HUF 150 million. The Debrecen Vocational Training Centre (abbreviated as DSZC in Hungarian) financed the development from its own resources and from TAO sports development funds in cooperation with DSZC-Eötvös DSE. The doors and windows in the gymnasium, as well as the associated rooms and changing rooms, were replaced, the building was also insulated externally, the floor covering was replaced and the lines necessary for the sports were painted. The SZC  (Abbreviated form of Vocational Training Centre in Hungarian) also purchased sports equipment; the gymnasium was expanded with bars, basketball stands, handball goals, and a space-dividing curtain.

DSZC-Eötvös DSE was founded in 1998 under the name Eötvös DSE, with the main goal of providing planned exercise, health preservation and competitive sports opportunities in volleyball. The Debrecen Vocational Training Centre joined the association’s work in 2017 as its eponymous sponsor. Through the cooperation, the centre, among other things, provides the DSZC-Eötvös DSE with the gyms, changing rooms and even dormitory rooms necessary for holding training sessions and organising competitions free of charge. The usage agreement between the SZC and the Eötvös Street Student Sports Association also includes that the association can use the gymnasium free of charge until 2034 for the above-mentioned purposes.

At the ceremonial handover of the gymnasium, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Veronika Varga-Bajusz said, “We live in an era when young people have been given so many opportunities, while many sectors: education, the competitive sector, civil organisations, state administration and government actors are working together to expand them even further.”

“The reform of vocational training has been of paramount importance in recent years, it is enough to review the training courses of the Debrecen institution, and it is clear that it completely covers the sector. But training is not enough, the appropriate level is important, in which not only dedicated instructors but also actors from the economic life are involved. This ensures the appropriate supply of specialists. The basic condition for quality education is also the appropriate level of the training venue, of which the previous renovation of the institution and the gymnasium last year are a good example,” the State Secretary pointed out.

In his welcoming speech at the event, Member of Parliament, Lajos Kósa said that the Commercial School is 100 percent utilised, and he also highlighted that vocational training in Debrecen is very attractive, and the vocational training centre has doubled its staff in recent times.

“Keri” has a good reputation, for example, the school was the alma mater of many famous chefs. He drew attention to the fact that the institution teaches professions and students acquire knowledge that artificial intelligence alone will never be able to replace. The children are here, the infrastructure is needed, both for the students here and for the athletes of DSZC-Eötvös DSE.

Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa said, “The future of Keri is clearly bright”, and the current development fits perfectly into the city’s strategic programme. The objective of Debrecen 2030 is to build the future, which is reflected on the one hand in the development of the city’s economy, in the creation of jobs, on the other hand in the construction and renovation of nurseries, kindergartens and schools, and this is how the gymnasium of the Trade School was renovated with joint efforts. The Deputy Mayor explained that the other symbolic element of the development is sport, as sport is a strategic issue in Debrecen, it is important that young people become healthy adults. He pointed out that the cooperation between the two emblematic organisations, DSZC and DSZC-Eötvös DSC, is gratifying, and the Deputy Mayor called the development a win-win situation.

Secretary of DSZC-Eötvös DSE, András Szombathy thanked all the players who made the development possible in his speech, and addressed the city and the DSZC management, saying that he believes that their young people will be able to play sports in worthy circumstances, and that they would like to “repay” the trust they have received in the future by striving to achieve worthy results.

Regarding the cooperation, the Chancellor of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre, Zsolt Tirpák pointed out that vocational training has undergone tremendous development both nationally and in Debrecen, and that it now means future potential if someone chooses vocational training. He believes that thanks to the “KIM” strategy, the flexible vocational training system is able to adequately serve the market and young people. Although the automotive industry is often the focus of attention in the city, economic development also brings with it the explosive development of other sectors, including trade and hospitality. But it is not only learning and community experiences that are needed: community sports and cultural events, cultured sports spaces, such as the newly opened gymnasium, are important. The Chancellor said, “Debrecen is a city of cooperation, where cooperation is the key to success. The city is developing, vocational training has a promising future.”

Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu