PADUA – If for the vast majority of the school world the year can be considered over, for Roberto Natale one of the hottest phases begins today. First the final exams, then the appointments for professorships and management positions, and finally the very delicate issue of substitutes. As always, it will be a long summer for the superintendent of Padua. On the day before, in his office on the fourth floor of the provincial school office in via Cave, he monitors that everything is ready.
Superintendent, what year was it?
«The personal feeling is that it flew. In general I must say that after the difficult period of the pandemic we no longer had major organizational difficulties. We started in an orderly manner, without delays in assigning substitutes, and the entire year ran smoothly. Students also participated in many of our initiatives on issues such as bullying and violence against women. We are satisfied.”
The final exams begin. How do you get there?
«After Covid we have already returned to the traditional formula for a few years. In recent days we have replaced 44 external members or presidents due to incompatibility, illness or other legitimate impediments. It is all ready. Overall we get there well but we have recorded more than a few critical issues in technical and scientific subjects. This year we struggled to find new teachers and also for this reason the Ministry provided specific funding.”
What personal memories do you have of your exam?
«I took the exam in Foggia, in the first test I chose the current affairs track. After so many years I don’t remember exactly the topic, but current events have certainly always fascinated me. Of those days I remember above all a great physical effort.”
And what do you wish for today’s graduates?
«I hope you want to improve yourself. I hope not to have a passive attitude, but rather an attitude aimed at personal growth and improvement.”
There are those who have already chosen what to do after graduation and those who will make such an important decision in the coming months…
«Orientation is a very important topic. I see that many children do not have clear ideas and this can lead to three negative effects in the long run: school failure, early dropout and school dropout. We need to pay more and more attention to orientation.”
As?
«Making a further effort to understand everyone’s inclinations, potential and passions. This is an increasingly important professional skill that teachers are expected to have. It is important for teachers to develop this skill and it is also important to act directly with the children.”
Are you thinking of any particular activities?
«Targeted workshops that help kids make decisions can be useful. There are specific techniques that help you make the right choices based on your goals. It is right to focus more and more on these aspects.”
After graduation, what other phases will you face?
«The next step concerns the managers because we need to replace those who will retire (those from the comprehensive institutes of Noventa, Monselice and Este, the Ninth comprehensive institute in Padua, the Valle institute also in Padua and the Caro high school in Cittadella will leave, ed. ). In the next few weeks we will start the mobility procedure to see if there is any manager, in the Padua area but also from outside the province or from outside the region, interested in coming here”.
Then?
«In July we will adjust the staff based on the situations of the various classes. Let me give an example: if a disabled student arrives in a class and the maximum limit of 20 students is exceeded, that class must be halved and therefore the staffing of the teachers also changes.”
And when will the new teachers join?
«Also in July there will be the intake of new teachers who have passed the competition. Then between August and September we will make the appointments of substitutes based on the waivers.”
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Read the full article at
The Gazzettino
