Covid, teachers at risk of layoffs and waste of public money. Yet another story of an Italian bureaucratic short circuit. The news comes from Reggio Emilia from the "Teachers' Committee at risk of dismissal due to Covid" and directly involves the Minister of Education and Merit Joseph Vallettara.
The teachers turn to him to find a solution to a surreal story. It all stems from a recent ruling by the Council of State - number 202400766 - which ruled against the teachers on the basis of an appeal from the Ministry. What happened ? The sentence was reversed in discussion the hiring of teachers who had participated in a supplementary test of the 2021 competition for nursery and primary schools.
The teachers had missed the exam on the scheduled date, because they were all sick with Covid. They were closed at home and, therefore, unable to go to the competition venues. In the statement released this morning, the Committee reconstructs everything, in particular to inform the current Minister. In 2020 the Ministry of University and Research announced the competition for the hiring of thousands of teachers. One hundred of these, in fact, did not participate in the written test as they were affected by the pandemic.
The economic and social cost of a paradox
To take the test, however, they were forced to lodge an appeal with the TAR. The Administrative Court agreed with them. The test was held, passed by many competitors and the winning teachers were hired. They went to primary schools throughout Italy. Despite this, the Ministry of Via Trastevere appealed to the Council of State contesting the carrying out of the event supplementary test. Valditara wasn't at the ministry, but why was the appeal made to the Council of State? How much did the Ministry spend to have a competition test carried out, only to then contest it? A paradox that evidently cannot be explained where everything had been settled.
The teachers were flattered and gained their jobs. Was it necessary to resort to administrative justice against people who were emerging from years of precarious employment? Or the left has a strange idea of school justice? At the origin of everything, the teachers wrote this morning, there was an "objective impediment, as emerges from the motivation of the Administrative Court's ruling in the context and in the particular context of the pandemic".
An administrative disorder that Valditara - who recognizes Italian teachers for "the indispensable work carried out on a daily basis for the benefit of our young people and our school" - can resolve. Yes, "to avoid dismissal, intervention by the Ministry, if not by the legislator, is appropriate" adds the Committee. Perhaps from the prime minister herself Giorgia Meloni to fix a paradoxical situation. Time, papers and money used badly, one might say.
And the schools involved? If they lose the teachers "they will see teaching continuity interrupted in the middle of the school year, with serious damage to pupils and families throughout Italy". Will other teachers be hired? Will the potentially fired people have to pay back money? Will there be other disputes? The State will spend others taxpayers' money? Will the unions mobilize? An amnesty, if desired, can be found to restore serenity to a world experiencing difficult times. Time is tight, which is why the appeal was sent to the parties and trade unions. The centre-right government which encourages merit in education has a good opportunity to make it count.
An all-Italian shame, nothing new