From the two Agendas South and North over 500 million anti-bandits

In order to combat a school drop-out rate of 11.5 per cent (15.1 per cent in southern Italy) and a gap in basic skills that now affects half of all school-leavers, Minister Valditara has tried to deploy a dual strategy, first Agenda Sud and now Agenda Nord, which together are worth more than half a billion euro. Resources to which are to be added those of the new Summer 2024 Plan, which puts 400 million on the track and, under the heading 'things to be done', also includes disciplinary strengthening.

The initiative, which started in August 2023, involves over 2,000 schools in southern Italy. Particular attention has been paid to the 245 institutions in the most critical situations, as identified by Invalsi, which are also to be addressed by increasing the number of staff (an average of four extra teachers per institute), expanding school time and sports activities, and directly involving families. With the initial 265.5 million, various initiatives have been put in place, from the strengthening of basic and transversal skills to laboratory activities with the opening of institutes beyond school hours and with the help of the territories. The latest data provided by MIM to Il Sole 24 Ore on Monday speak of almost 16,000 activated modules, 15,945 to be exact. 37%, or 5,887, are aimed at the mother tongue, 5,120 (32%) at strengthening mathematics, 4,399 (28%) at English for primary schools, 539 at Italian for foreigners (3%). 70% of the schools covered by Agenda Sud are currently carrying out the measure, 20% have already completed the project.

Also for the Agenda Sud schools, an additional allocation of EUR 15 million has been made for pilot projects in the most fragile areas, including many suburban areas. Here the institutes, veritable poles and educational hubs, because they are in a network with other schools, institutions, and third sector associations, will have the opportunity to activate socio-educational and psychological support actions, customised training courses, guidance and accompaniment on issues such as gender respect. The first pilot project is implemented in Caivano.

In addition to the 265.5 million in Agenda Sud, MIM has put in place 12 million to increase Ata personnel, 13.3 million for more teachers, 25 for projects to strengthen basic skills, and 6 million for economic incentives for teachers who remain in the same school for years, guaranteeing teaching continuity.

The NRP invests 1.5 billion to combat early school leaving, the first 500 million have already been allocated to schools. The goal is a challenging one: by 2026 we must reduce school drop-out rates to 10.2 per cent, equal to a 'catch-up' of 820,000 students across the entire peninsula.