“Let's start investing in education again after years of cuts. We have developed some initial answers, but more will come. This is how Prime Minister Enrico Letta today presented the decree on schools, universities and research approved in the morning by the Council of Ministers. The package is worth a total of "400 million euros" - said Anna Maria Carrozza, Minister of Education - and includes a series of measures: elimination from this year of the maturity bonus, cut in the cost of books, 100 million for study and 15 for the fight against early school leaving, recruitment of ATA personnel and stabilization of 27 support teachers, extension of the residence permit for foreign students and penalties for those who use electronic cigarettes at school.
ABOLITION OF THE MATURITY BONUS
"We have decided to immediately accelerate the elimination of the maturity bonus - said Letta - which as it stands creates disparities in university entrance". In the entrance tests to the faculties with a limited number of students currently underway in the universities, therefore, the mark obtained in the state exam will not be taken into account. "It was difficult to apply and we would have created iniquity," admitted the minister.
RECRUITMENTS AND STABILIZATIONS
“For the functioning of the schools, the decree contains the beginning of the solution of the question of the ATA personnel – the Prime Minister explained -. Recruitment will start on January 27st. Our schools are in dramatic shortage. As for support teachers, “with this provision there will be 69 permanent entries – said Carrozza -. Then there is a three-year plan which provides for the hiring of XNUMX teachers”.
CHEAPER BOOKS
The minister added that "starting from this school year, students will be able to use textbooks from previous editions, provided they comply with national guidelines". As regards the expenditure ceilings for books, it will be the school principals who ensure compliance, rejecting the resolutions of the board of teachers which provide for them to be exceeded. Lastly, eight million euros were allocated (of which 2,7 for 2013 and 5,3 for 2014) to finance the purchase of textbooks and e-books by secondary schools, which in turn will have to entrust these tools on loan for use to students in disadvantaged economic situations.
FUNDS TO FIGHT AGAINST EDUCATIONAL DISPERSION AND SCHOLARSHIP
The decree allocates "15 million euros (of which 3,6 for 2013 and 11,4 for 2014) for the fight against early school leaving", explained the minister. In particular, the funds will be allocated on the basis of three criteria: the need to lighten household spending on meals and transport; the economic conditions of the student on the basis of the ISEE; merit in studies based on school evaluation. Another 100 million euros will go to the University Student Scholarship Fund.
