Antonella Dragotto, former head of the press office of the Bank of Italy, is a candidate for the Senate with +Europe in the multi-nominal constituencies Campania 1 (Leader), Campania 2, Campania 3 and Marche 1.
The first legislative initiative that I intend to promote, if elected to the new Parliament, concerns schools and in particular the classification and career development of teachers. Teachers are professionals who are entrusted with the education and training of the new generations, but who are paid in Italy a salary that is not appropriate to the importance of the function.
This is also documented by the latest OECD report, according to which the salary of Italian teachers, both in primary and first and second level secondary schools, is significantly lower than the European average.
By way of example, a lower secondary school teacher (the so-called "middle school") has a gross annual salary of 25 euros at the start of his career, 31 euros after 15 years of service and a maximum of 38 euros. The European average is respectively 26, 36 and 45 euros. Furthermore, a teacher in Italy reaches the maximum salary after 35 years of activity, while the European average reaches it after 24 years. Germany, Spain, Austria and Belgium are the countries where teachers earn the most.
Due to the economic crisis, the wages of Italian teachers have been frozen for about a decade. A new contract was recently signed which provides for a gross increase of between 80 and 100 euros gross per month. An increase still largely insufficient.
Remuneration is one of the most important factors for attracting and developing qualified professionals. Improving salary levels is a fundamental step to restore social role and recognition to teachers.
