Andrea Innocenti On November 2, 2026, the town of Cinecittà was rocked by news that immediately caught the attention of parents, students, and authorities: the branch of the Ferrari-Hertz technical-commercial institute on Via Contardo Ferrini was declared unsafe after a prolonged student occupation.
Initial investigations conducted by the Metropolitan City of Rome revealed a scene of total degradation.
Door after door , the vandals destroyed vital safety features, from damaging fire doors to breaking approximately half of the interior doors of classrooms and restrooms. Fire alarms and emergency lights, essential features of a school building, were completely tampered with, while the elevator was forced to the point of being unusable.
Property damage at the branch on Via Contardo Ferrini
The preliminary assessment, released by the metropolitan administration itself, indicates a financial loss of approximately €200,000 , a figure that does not even include the technological and teaching equipment still present on the premises. Chairs and desks, thrown on the floor like debris, were partially recovered, but most were destroyed or rendered unusable.
On the walls, in addition to the hammer scratches, offensive symbols stand out, including swastika crypts, which further aggravated the severity of the vandalism.
Fire doors and compromised security systems
The fire doors, designed to contain fires and ensure safe evacuation, were completely removed, leaving the entire structure vulnerable. The intervention on the alarm system included deactivating the fire alarm system and removing all fire extinguishers, some of which were found empty in the emergency containers. These actions transformed the building into a high-risk zone, making it impossible for students to return without a complete redevelopment.
Impact on teaching and administration response
Faced with a school rendered unusable, the Metropolitan City of Rome—responsible for more than 360 school buildings in the capital and province—has announced that it is unable to intervene immediately due to budget shortfalls. Councilor Daniele Parrucci, responsible for school buildings, education, and sports facilities, stated: " The school is unusable and there are no funds to intervene immediately ."
To ensure the continuity of teaching, the administration is evaluating two concrete scenarios: the use of distance learning (DAD) for all students on site, or the organization of double shifts at the school's main campus, where classrooms are still available. Neither option has yet been determined, and the timing of any reconstruction work remains uncertain.
Parrucci emphasized that, while young people's right to protest is recognized, the criminal acts committed at the venue cannot be justified. " We fully respect the right of young people to demonstrate for a more equitable school system ," he stated, "but when protests degenerate into destruction, we're talking about crimes."
Meanwhile, families, teachers, and students are facing a period of great uncertainty. The lack of an immediate solution leads to logistical inconveniences, potentially long travel times, and the financial burden of adapting routines to new learning modalities.