«School is the most effective lever for integration for those coming from other countries and for young people born in Italy who are the children of emigrants» .

The President of the Republic couldn't have been clearer on the day he inaugurated the school year in Amatrice, one of the symbolic places of reconstruction after the terrible 2016 earthquake. Sergio Mattarella's warning is clear and comes just hours after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced two sweeping reforms that directly impact the world of education: a cap on the number of foreign students in classes and a ban on the burka in classrooms .

The president speaks before Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara—who remained silent on the measure—and calls into question those who have the power and duty to intervene: "Teachers must not be abandoned by society, and institutions must not abdicate their responsibility in difficult situations." Mattarella lists several problems, from bullying to youth gangs to attacks on teachers. And he extends the responsibility to families as well.

Mattarella reserves the harshest words for the end, those underscored by the loudest applause from an audience largely composed of teachers: "Schools must establish connections, gain the trust of families, help prevent the formation of ghettos, avoid raising barriers, make our communities safer, unite and not tear apart , overcoming the walls of mistrust and lack of communication. Schools are called upon to produce social cohesion." Finally, he cites the Constitution: "School is the most effective lever for integration for those coming from other countries and for young people born in Italy who are the children of emigrants. School prepares everyone. 'It is open to all': this is what Article 34 of the Constitution states."

(Unioneonline)

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