Reform of public schools

“The government decree that was never discussed in the schools themselves strikes the public school system in Italy, risking to provoke damage that is impossible to calculate”. After the vote of Parliament passing the decree of the Minister of Education Mariastella Gelmini, Nicola Pantaleo, President of the Association “31 October”, expressed his opinion in this way. This association, started within the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, works toward a lay and pluralistic school.

During a recent convention at Palermo entitled: “Public and private: the role of the family in a lay and pluralistic school”, all the speakers spoke out strongly against the proposed “reform” of Gelmini. “Slogans such as simplifications, re-establishing seriousness and discipline , grades in conduct, use of smocks, serve to disguise the cuts made in teaching staff, school time, some disciplines, closing of small schools, etc. Naturally, the ‘hour of religion’ is not touched, and not only, in a recent note by the Ministry of Education it was recommended that the schools celebrate adequately the patron saint of Italy!” concluded Pantaleo.

From press service NEV - Notizie evangeliche, 31 October 2008