Como residents protest municipal school reorganization plan

In Como, Italy, hundreds of people, including families and teachers, protested outside Palazzo Cernezzi to oppose a municipal plan for school reorganization. Organized by the association Nova Como, the demonstrators used whistles to express dissent against measures that include reducing the number of comprehensive institutes from eight to five and the closure of specific nursery and primary schools, such as the Carluccio nursery and Corridoni primary school.

Protesters, led by Vincenzo Falanga and Teresa Minniti, criticized the administration for a lack of long-term vision and planning, arguing that the changes prioritize numerical calculations over the needs of students and families. The plan, aimed at addressing demographic declines, has sparked significant local tension regarding the future of neighborhood schools.

In other regions, local governments are also addressing school dimensioning. In Sassuolo, city council members raised inquiries regarding the potential merger of comprehensive institutes and the impact of demographic shifts on the school network. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the reduction of hours for educational assistance personnel (PEA) serving students with disabilities.