Faced with a birth rate curve that shows no signs of recovery, the percentage of requests for access to nursery schools is growing. In 2022, 49% of families with children up to two years of age submitted requests, 6% more than in 2019. However, the number of satisfied requests has not grown as much: if five years ago, 96 requests were accepted. %, in 2023 the Municipality stopped at 85%. And the eye is already at the beginning of next year: «At present we will not be able to provide nursery answers to over 300 families» summarizes the data Elisabetta Bozzarelli, deputy mayor of Trento with responsibility for the planning of school services. There were 200 last year, “but the data says that the growth trend will continue.” After all, explains Bozzarelli, «a social change is underway and today the nursery is requested by most families.” But the costs for families have certainly contributed to the increase in applications, with the average fee per child this year being 58 euros.
The subscribers
The solution thought up by the council, however, relies on nursery schools, which instead are progressively emptying. In the 41 “nursery schools”, considering the provincial and equivalent ones, the total places available for children aged 3 to 6 are 4,001, while those enrolled for the current year are just 2,763. And out of the 160 potential sections, there are just 131 active ones. “Our proposal is to activate childhood centers in which to share spaces”, continues the deputy mayor. In essence it would be a question of taking advantage of the unoccupied places in the nursery schools to accommodate the 300 families who cannot find places in the packed nursery schools.
Of course, no integrated system at a pedagogical level, “classes and care models remain separate, with teachers and educators maintaining different contractual systems”. The Municipality therefore does not already intend to move towards an “integrated system” as envisaged by Vanessa Masè’s bill on «zerosei»: «What if we can gradually achieve educational integration? I think so – clarifies Bozzarelli – but with a serious investment in the employment contracts of school staff. In the meantime, let’s start with the spaces, the pedagogy must grow together with these paths.”
Nursery schools
The Municipality has already invested one million euros to renovate the Sardagna school and activate, “presumably from 2026”, a first childhood centre. But the nursery schools of Cadine, Mattarello and Povo also ended up under the administration’s scrutiny. where the number of members is considerably lower than the capacity. Only 54 enrolled at «Malograno» in Cadine out of 101 available places and 154 out of 226 at «Il Castello» in Mattarello, while at the Canotter institute in Povo, of the potential 101 children who could have enrolled, there are just 33. In this he last school, where 68 places are uncovered, the Province would agree to include only nine children from the nearby Oltrecastello nursery: «Among the rest only from 18 months upwards – the councilor points out – it is unacceptable for us. It is useless for us to want to combat the birth rate if we do not then provide the possibility of reconciling working life and family life, including the need for care, treatment and education.” And, broadening the reasoning: «The idea is that the nursery service becomes universal, our goal is that all children in the municipal area can access nursery school.” With the Province putting up resistance, Vice President Gerosa would be smoothing out some rough edges: «I saw her open to discussion. A clear political indication can have consequences in the operational choices of managers.”
The bonus for families
Meanwhile, as a stopgap measure, to accommodate the 300 families who will remain outside the ranking, “We are considering renting places to use as a nursery by September.” With the aim, on paper, of offering around seventy extra places. «And then – relaunches Bozzarelli – we are thinking of introducing bonuses for families who are unable to access, as a contribution for those who will have to turn to private individuals or babysitters”. With the shadow, certainly of waste, given that we would find ourselves in the situation of having to resort to private spaces, leaving nursery schools empty: “It’s sorry, because in this way we waste resources.”
