UdS fights to stop “BUONA SCUOLA”
50.000 students demonstrated in Italy against “Buona Scuola”, the new Renzi government’s reform about the Italian school system.
On the 12th of March 2015 there were 40 school student demonstrations all over Italy. This important date was convened by Unione degli Studenti (UdS) against the idea of the school system contained in the guidelines of “Buona Scuola“, the school reform developed by the Italian government. Although thousands of students demonstrated against the reform, the Government has not taken into account students’ demands and proposals.
Between October and December 2014, Italian school students met and discussed in assemblies held in schools all over the country about a different idea of educational system. The result is an alternative proposal of reform called “Altrascuola” (literally “Another school”), written by and for school students.
This new idea of school proposed by students is summed up in seven priorities collected in the document “AltraScuola”: a new national law regarding the right to study and access to education, aiming to achieve free education for all; Vocational Education and Training (VET) funded and qualified; 6% of GDP dedicated to education; a more democratic reform about decision-making process in schools; substantial investments in education system; a radical rethinking of school autonomies; a reform of system, programs and teaching.
Before the massive demonstrations, on the 10th of March, representatives of UdS were invited to the Chamber of Deputies (Italian Parliament) to present the students’ proposals. At the meeting several members of the Parliament and representatives of stakeholders were present. Please find here the online version of the proposal of reform “Altrascuola” (Italian version).
With the strong support of researchers and university students, demonstrations wanted to highlight that free access to education without hidden costs is only possible without austerity measures. For this reason, UdS believes that students’ struggles are strictly linked to a European dimension of democracy.
Written by Martina Carpani, Unione degli Studenti (UdS)
