Lucrezia Ciotti School as a tool for integration, inclusion , and social cohesion. From Amatrice, at the inauguration of the school year, President Sergio Mattarella reiterated the central role of education in welcoming foreign students and combating divisions and discrimination. This message was shared, albeit with varying degrees, by Minister Giuseppe Valditara and CEI President Matteo Zuppi.
Valditara: "Without knowledge of our language, there is no true integration."
Minister of Education and Merit Giuseppe Valditara also addressed the issue of integrating foreign students , stressing the need to address the issue while avoiding any form of exclusion. " The need for the integration of foreign students, in all the crucial nuances of this expression, must always be considered in its complexity , " Valditara declared, emphasizing the importance of addressing linguistic difficulties as well.
According to the minister, in fact, it is necessary to " avoid any discrimination at the root " and remove the obstacles that can lead to marginalization.
Particular attention was paid to knowledge of Italian, considered a central element in the scholastic and social path: “ Without knowledge of our language, there is no true integration, there is no scholastic success and there is no future within our society , ” stated the minister.
Valditara also emphasized the principle of equality enshrined in Article 3 of the Constitution and the investments made in school buildings, citing over 12 billion euros invested and additional resources for safety and seismic retrofitting.
CEI President Matteo Zuppi also addressed the need for a truly inclusive school , emphasizing that personal and social circumstances should not determine educational opportunities. "We cannot accept that a child's place of birth, economic or physical condition, or social context determine their learning opportunities ," he declared. For Zuppi, a "truly inclusive" school represents a fundamental tool for promoting justice and peace and must be a place " where no one feels excluded . "
Mattarella in Amatrice: "School is the most effective lever for integration."
On the inauguration day of the school year , celebrated at the "Sergio Marchionne" Comprehensive Institute in Amatrice, Sergio Mattarella emphasized the role of school as a space for inclusion and coexistence. The President of the Republic recalled the principle enshrined in the Constitution, underlining that " School is the most effective lever for integration for those coming from other countries and for young people born in Italy who are the children of emigrants . " An institution that, the Head of State recalled, must be accessible to all: " School prepares everyone. It is open to all: this is stated in Article 34 of the Constitution . "
In his speech, Mattarella also highlighted the need to strengthen the relationship between schools, students, and families, so that institutions can become places of encounter rather than separation. " It must establish bonds, gain the trust of families, help prevent the formation of ghettos, and avoid raising barriers ," he stated, adding that schools must contribute " to uniting rather than tearing apart, overcoming the walls of mistrust and lack of communication . " His speech also focused on the issue of safety and respect within school communities, with a call for combating bullying, oppression, and violence against teachers. Mattarella also spoke of the challenges linked to technology and artificial intelligence, which he defined as important opportunities but also carry the risk of manipulating reality. Young people, according to the president, must be able to use these tools " to think freely and not to hand themselves over to someone who thinks for them . "