A near-tragedy occurred at the branch of the Barsanti and Matteucci scientific high school in Viareggiothere is concern among the unions.
A portion of the roof collapses at the scientific high school in Viareggio
“We cannot avoid expressing our concern for the accident that occurred yesterday in the branch of the Barsanti and Matteucci scientific high school – say Flc Cgil -. Only luckily, in fact, the collapse of the roof beam under which the second class H was located did not turn into a tragedy, thanks to the attic which withstood the weight of the debris. Although there have been no repercussions for the students and school staff at the moment, it is not possible to remain silent in the face of an event of such gravity. In fact, we have been denouncing the failure to bring the majority of school buildings in the province up to standard for years. And, although no one was injured on this occasion, after an episode like this it is impossible to deny that even within schools there is also a safety problem relating to the spaces used for teaching”.
“As if the issue of safety were not enough, we must also consider the consequences following an episode of this kind, i.e. the loss of teaching spaces. From today, in fact, the six classes that held their lessons in the portion of the building affected by the collapse will be moved to the institute’s laboratories and gym. A makeshift solution that certainly sacrifices students and teachers, forced to use spaces less suitable for teaching – conclude from the Flc Cgil -. We cannot therefore help but wonder why, in the face of similar situations for a large part of the provincial school buildings, and not only that, an investment plan for the rehabilitation of school buildings is not drawn up. Once again, education, in the government’s plans, seems destined to play the role of an extra. While we are talking about millions of euros for the financing of tutors and the Pnrr in fact, the school is defunded and left at the mercy of now historic problems. However, it would be desirable for these problems to be resolved before another collapse of this kind could have more serious consequences, opening the eyes not only of public opinion, but also of the political class”.
“This time it went well. But the collapse of the ceiling at the Barsanti and Matteucci high school in Viareggio represents a very strong alarm bell about everything that still must – and must not – be done. Today could have been a day of tears and anger – he declares Massimo Bani, general secretary of CISL Toscana Nord -. Luckily there are no tears, but there is anger. And this is because in every platform in which we find ourselves dealing with institutions we put the safety of school buildings, the need to make adaptation interventions systematic and, above all, safety as an absolute priority. And the controls. This time it went well, but on the path and that of our children in particular we cannot rely on luck. There is an opportunity in the field, the one offered by the Pnrr resources on the basis of which we could establish opportunities in terms of safety also in schools. There must be maximum sharing of objectives on the Pnrr, the social partners have a fundamental role in this and must be involved and consulted”.
For Roberto Malzone, general secretary of CISL Tuscany school, the crucial point is one. “It is important to be involved ‘first’ by the institutions, and we hope the Province will want to do it as soon as possible to discuss the plan for organizing the school network – underlines Malzone -. Even in the case of the Viareggio high school, it was about a location assigned due to a surplus of students compared to the capacity of the main location. Therefore sizing and school structures must be evaluated hand in hand and coordinated. And there must be no superficiality regarding the adjustments of the complexes and the controls. The checks must be systematic and certified. The situation of workplaces and schools must return to being an absolute priority, because evidently something is not working. School is a home that must offer protection and security, not risks and tears.”
