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Indignation is growing among the teaching staff, the ATA staff and the families of the students of the Alberti Institute of Higher Education in Benevento: the reason is a sudden and unjustifiable change of direction by the local authorities which has upset the plans for the future of the Institute. The initial project involved the demolition of the current school building, located in Risorgimento square, with the consequent reconstruction of a modern and functional structure and, in the meantime, the transfer of the school community to the former university headquarters in via Calandra. Inspections by technicians and school staff, checks of the works, continuous exchange of communications led to a rapid and peaceful resolution of the events, a fact also highlighted by articles in the local press which had widely spread the news.
This decision, however, was suddenly revoked. The reason? The building in via Calandra it has been allocated to another institute which does not require demolition and whose restructuring will involve shorter working times. This will mean that the Alberti students will initially be divided into two structures and then, when the premises in via Calandra are vacated, a second move will take place for them; as it is easy to imagine, these moves would not only cause considerable inconvenience to students, teachers and families in logistical and emotional terms, but could also have an impact on the validity of the school year itself, since it is rumored that this second move could take place even during the spring, in full swing of teaching activities.
The institute for which the building in via Calandra was intended should have been located in the structure that currently represents the Alberti branch. However, this structure, frequented by various classes of students who have lived in those environments on a daily basis for years, was not considered adequate by potential new guests, generating in the staff and students of Alberti the unpleasant feeling of being treated like second-class people.
“It is unacceptable that Alberti, a historic institution with a consolidated tradition, is penalized in this way” says a representative of the teaching staff. “Our students and staff deserve to be able to study and work in an appropriate environment, without having to suffer constant upheavals.”
Students’ families echo teachers’ concerns.”Our children, like everyone, have recently had to face the difficulties of distance learning and the pandemic and it is not fair that they also have to endure the chaos and stress of two moves in a short time, without sensible motivation and logic.”
The Alberti school community asks the local authorities to reconsider their decision and to apply what has long been expected for justice and common sense. This story represents an emblematic example of the difficulties that the Italian school system is facing. The lack of resources and the lack of attention to the concrete needs of students and school staff risk compromising the quality of education and creating a climate of mistrust and frustration. A change of direction is needed, a concrete commitment on the part of the institutions, to guarantee all students the right to quality education, in an adequate and welcoming environment. It is unacceptable that Alberti students and families have to suffer the consequences of rethinking and upheavals: it is time for the institutions to act decisively and keep their promises. It is important to focus on the well-being of the future of children who cannot feel treated like parcels to be moved from one place to another, without logical reasons. Families, staff and students have the right to feel an active part of the decision-making process and start a constructive dialogue with the authorities who in turn have the duty to work to find a solution that does not leave the entire community in the limbo of uncertainty and worry.
