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Le new provisions introduce stricter rules for misbehavior at school: in particular, those who get a 5 in conduct will automatically fail and cases of serious bullying are also included.
New rules for bad behavior at school
In the event of a 6 in conduct, however, the student will be sent back to September and will not be able to be admitted to the next class until passing a make-up exam, during which he/she will have to present a critical essay on the values and principles violated by his/her behavior.
This demonstrates that he understood the gravity of his actions also in light of the constitutional principles and the rules of the school community. This is what the Minister of Education Valditara during the press conference at the end of the Council of Ministers at Palazzo Chigi.
Change the suspension system and recovery activities
“The principle is more school and not less school for those who do it bullying, acts of violence and/or damage of public goods. Until now, the suspension of up to 15 days involved staying at home, that is, the student was abandoned to his fate, maybe he was even happy because he was staying at home playing on the PlayStation or playing football with friends. Now it changes, up to two days, there will be more school, in the sense that the student goes to school, studies but also has to delve deeper, study, reflect, write on all those issues connected to the bad conduct held. In essence, more homework is given, he will have to delve deeper into why society, the community deems that type of behavior wrong.
Solidarity citizenship activities
Above two days, therefore from 3 to 15 days, the so-called mandatory solidarity citizenship activities. School and regional offices will have to identify charitable and welfare organizations (third sector, public institutions) where these activities of solidarity citizenship can take place, such as serving at a soup kitchen, working in a hospital, serving in a retirement home. If these subjects are not identified, perhaps simply clean and keep the school garden clean”. This was announced by the Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara during the press conference organized at the end of the Council of Ministers, speaking of the “modification of the Statute of students”. “The schools – adds the minister – they will also have to carry out actions of analysis and cultural contrast towards the phenomena of bullying, cyberbullying and addictions”. “With these Regulations we are creating the conditions for the entry into force of this regulation for the next school year as well additional legislation” the minister highlighted, explaining that the principles that inspired us are “solidarity, civic sense, fostering a sense of belonging to the community and individual responsibility”.
Increased penalties for assaults on teachers
“We believe – he concludes – that it is a great principle to make students responsible for the authority of teachers: we must restore respect for the authority of teachers, respect for the rules as a form of maturation”. “It is expected thatmandatory arrest in flagrante delicto (of parents, ed.) in the event of personal injuries to teachers and school principals, not mere verbal aggression" explains the Minister of Education. "It is expected that worsening of penalties for injuries to staff - Valditara continues - for example, the sentence for minor injuries goes from six months to three years currently to two to five years of imprisonment. Why this rule? School staff are the ones most affected by attacks. It is mostly parents who hit. A teacher, a school principal, is not to be touched. I can also add that the delicate and important role of the educator must be preserved. The primary objective is conditions of serenity for our children. Arrest in flagrante does not extend to minors". School staff are the ones most subject to attacks, immediately after health personnel. "In 2022-2023, most of the attacks were against students, from 2023-2024 it is mostly parents who hit teachers or school principals", said Valditara, citing some of the more serious episodes: “In Rome, a colleague had to be escorted home by her colleagues because she was afraid after episodes of stalking by her parents. In the end, they showed up at school and beat her with sticks. In Calabria, insults escalated to physical aggression: a teacher was punched by his parents, fell to the ground, hit his head and remains in hospital with a reserved prognosis”. According to what was reported by the minister, the principle in changing the rules is “very clear”: “A teacher is untouchable. The role of an educator must be preserved and conditions of serenity must be guaranteed for those who work with our children."
Rules for extracurricular activities on sexuality
“For her extra curricular activities in the field of sexuality, schools must obtain the prior written consent of parents based on comprehensive prior information on the subjects involved and on the teaching material". "The Parents– he continued Valditara– must be aware of educational initiatives on sensitive topics such as sexuality”. Finally, with regard to the activities to expand the educational offer that must be carried out, “schools must provide students with an alternative educational activity, where they have been denied consent“, concluded the minister.