Schools closed until March 15, order the government decree for now. But an even worse scenario is emerging: that of a closure of all schools of various levels, and of universities, throughout the country for the entire month of March, with reopening on Monday 6 April (moreover in the week leads to Easter), or even for the entire months of March and April, thus incorporating the various Easter bridges, April 25 and May 1, returning directly on May 4 for the final rush. Obviously, however, this third option on the table of the Minister of Education Lucia Azzolina would jeopardize the validity of the school year for the over 8,5 million students throughout Italy, forced to interrupt lessons for practically two months and half.
There are therefore three options: return to class in 10 days (unlikely), do it in exactly one month (the most probable option at the moment, also because the same decree signed by Conte and Speranza two days ago offers the possibility of closing until Friday 3 April without the need for new cards), do it in two months. The most worrying node is that of the Maturity exams, which among other things provide for admission to the Invalsi tests, theoretically started last Monday and to be completed on paper by March 31st: there is the possibility that, for reasons of force majeure, they will be cancelled. Maturity will be streamlined and for this reason we are also thinking about the possible elimination of the figure of the external commissioner. If schools really were to remain closed until May 4, fifth grade students would have six weeks to prepare for the exam (which opens on June 17 with the Italian test): a solution will be found within this month.
To make everything more streamlined and reduce to a minimum the so-called extra-curricular commitments (even if important), the institutes that up to now have not carried out the alternating school-work hours will no longer have to do it, just as the prohibition period has been lengthened of school trips: from 15 March to 3 April. Probably, given the moonlight, there will be no question of making them. To offer a solution to all of this Minister Azzolina insists on remote lessons: some institutes (few) have already organized themselves, taking advantage of the fact that the decree gives direct powers to the school manager. The topic is very hot, and most experts believe that this solution should be implemented not only to safeguard the continuity of learning, but also – as he told FIRSTonline the director of the MIP Politecnico di Milano Federico Frattini – "the technology for smart learning exists and is accessible to all".
Will this opportunity be seized, or will the resistance of insiders prevail in the face of forced and sudden innovation? At the moment the ministry and the government are looking for uniform criteria throughout the country, also taking into account one last but not least aspect: it will be possible to reject it when probably all Italian schools will not be able to guarantee the minimum attendance of 200 days? The risk of recourse is high.
