BOLZANO. Over 22 thousand pupils and students from next Thursday, September 5, will return to school in Italian-language institutions. A total of 5,266 of them have foreign citizenship (23.7%; 22% in nursery school, 25% in elementary school, 29% in middle school, 17% in high school and 35% in vocational training), while another 3,337 enrolled have a certification as disabled or with special educational needs (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dysorthographia and dyscalculia). Another 210 are in the process of being assessed in this regard.
A school, therefore, far from easy to ferry towards the future, but which places inclusion at the center of attention, because this is what the legislation requires, even before the Constitution and above all the pedagogical and didactic disciplines. Thus the school superintendent Vincenzo Gullotta and the provincial councilor Marco Galateo, who underlines: «In these months we have worked to ensure that the year starts in the best possible way. We have concentrated on the training and updating of the teaching staff, on the strengthening of some fundamental aspects of teaching, as well as on the enrichment of the cultural life of the children, such as the precious partnership with the Artist Club».
In short, a year not short of novelties.
Some numbers
Of the 22,244 students, 942 will be new entries in nursery schools, 1,140 will start primary schools, 1,326 will start middle schools, 1,472 will start high schools and 751 will start vocational training. As for teachers, there are a total of 3,083 positions: 2,895 in the workforce, 185 funded. 485 people are working in nursery schools, 2,014 in state schools, 305 in vocational training, 88 in music schools, in addition to another 189 collaborators.
Gullotta guarantees that all positions will be filled by September 5: «Like every year, the last few days are a tour de force, but we will make it».
New managers
In addition to the 68 new permanent teachers who will start working now, there are six new head teachers of the Italian-language school who have been appointed or who will change location. For two of them, this is a new assignment: Silvia Francowho succeeds Andrea Pedevilla as director of the Istituto de’ Medici, and Diana Palumbo who will direct the Marconi professional school in Merano, with the annexed school for fruit-vine growing and gardening in Laimburg. Change of location for the managers instead Lydia Fallaiwhich moves from the comprehensive institute Merano I to Merano II, and Proper Waxing who moves from the Marconi vocational school to the Ritz vocational school, also in Merano. The professor returns from abroad Carmela Grassiwho will direct the Merano I comprehensive institute, while the director Christian Rispoli takes on the role of inspector for inclusion at the provincial school directorate. Finally, Professor Terence Leone he was appointed director of the provincial evaluation service from 1 September.
It is Drusus
There are two main novelties. The first: in Druso Est the new nursery school will finally open, with two sections, one German and one Italian. In the latter, two teachers will be on duty, one of whom is a native English speaker and one is a pedagogical assistant. There are 19 enrolled. An experimental project will be started, with the vehicular use of the English language in play activities and in daily life.
First theatre hub in Italy
The Anne Frank secondary school in Bolzano will inaugurate an innovative theatrical experimentation project for the 2024/2025 school year, which will involve a first and a second class for a total of 47 students aged between 11 and 14. The initiative, led by the contact teacher Chiara Grasso, will see the active participation of twelve teachers belonging to the class councils involved, with the aim of integrating theatre into the school curriculum. The project aims to teach students transversal skills through theatre, such as knowing how to relate to others, collaboration, the use of verbal and non-verbal languages, strengthening self-esteem and trust in others. And also the fight against the phenomena of hardship and school dropout, the development of expressive skills and lexical enrichment. “Theatre represents an extraordinary opportunity for growth for our children”, says Gullotta. «This experiment will not only introduce students to the world of art, but will also help develop essential transversal skills».
The conventions
They were formalized yesterday at Palazzo Widmann, with the official signature, and will be operational from September. Among the novelties of this year, in fact, also the signing of four important agreements with as many institutions and associations. “Our intent is to strengthen the synergy between school and territory, facilitating the creation of projects and the participation of companies and associations in school life” Gullotta always commented. “I thank Banco Alimentare, the Italian Red Cross – provincial section, NOI Techpark and the Association of South Tyrolean Women Farmers for the interest shown. The quality of the projects that we will start with them will allow schools to delve into issues that are very dear to us, such as health education, legality and the conscious use of technological tools”.
The new guidelines
Superintendent Gullotta yesterday also illustrated the new Guidelines The School We Want – A World That Grows with Us. “This is a programmatic document that outlines the profile of the Italian school system over the next five school years,” he explained. “We want to provide a tool for permanent realignment with our objectives, highlighting the priorities on which to focus.” The guidelines will be distributed in schools and are available online on the Intendancy website.
Initiatives for students
The inauguration of the school year will take place on September 19th. In February there will be a Day on the conscious use of new technologies. Finally, in May, the Day of Legality.
Commitment to teachers
The provincial update plan includes 138 courses proposed, in three macro-areas: environment, citizenship, responsibility; didactic innovation; basic skills. Six training days, with conferences and workshops: September 3 for nursery schools; October 18 on the new guidelines; November 13 on orientation for higher technical institutes; November 20 education for equality as education for citizenship; December 5 socio-emotional skills; spring 2025 school inclusion.
2024-09-02 01:54:33