However, there is a change of pace: With the Rocca administration, the problem is addressed for the first time in April and the territories have a say.
VITERBO – The serious demographic crisis that is affecting the whole of Italy, caused by the scarcity of work and prospects for young people, is also reflected more every year on the schools of the Viterbo area but something is moving in the province where a meeting was held today of the mayors in the presence of the education councilor of the Lazio Region Giuseppe Schiboni.
The numbers illustrated, however, are disturbing. With 650 fewer pupils than last year, the schools of Tuscia are suffering and will soon undergo new mergers respecting the will of the school sizing project that the Rocca council is carrying out.
Compared to the past, however, there are important innovations, as well illustrated by the regional councilors Daniele Sabatini and Giulio Zelli who placed the emphasis on the dialogue that the Region has undertaken with all the territories. This is “a new phase”, as Sabatini well defined it, which differs from what happened in the past, such as during the administration of the PD led by Zingaretti, where the municipalities had no say in the matter and had to simply submit to decisions made from above. “Moreover – added Sabatini – this problem had never been addressed before in the month of April, but only later. After Santa Rosa, as they say in Viterbo”. A truly important change of pace, as later underlined by various mayors who will finally be able to at least express their opinion on the age-old problem.
As illustrated by councilor Schiboni: “Tomorrow the Region will send the municipalities a draft which can then be commented on. Something new compared to the past.”
The problem of mandatory school sizing was also highlighted by the president of the Province of Viterbo Alessandro Romoli. “It is difficult to train even primary school classes – Romoli explained to the audience of mayors – and soon almost half of the schools in the province will be closed and many territories will remain completely schools, losing the appeal towards new investments”.
The administrator Daniele Peroni also entered into the matter, wanting to underline to the regional councilor Schiboni the differences between territories such as Tuscia or Reatino with Roma Capitale. “The problems of the provinces are different from those of the capital of Rome – he declared – Merging a school into Viterbo or Rieti always causes much bigger problems, just think of municipalities like Amatrice or Leonessa. If the schools here were merged, it would take at least an hour, without snow, to reach one place from another.”
It is about guaranteeing students’ right to study and respecting their families who, in the event of a merger, will have to make new sacrifices to bring their children to school. In fact, the local transport system, certainly not among the best functioning in Italy, has also come under attack. But Schiboni explained well that whoever drew up the sizing project was well aware of this and took it into account.
Tags: Viterbo demographic crisis affects schools problem faced united
