Valditara: ‘The number of school complexes has risen to over 41,000.’ Measures to keep schools open in inland areas

“This year, the number of school complexes stands at over 41,000, which is actually higher than in previous years. This is further proof that the controversies of recent years regarding school restructuring were entirely without foundation.” These were the words of the Minister for Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara, during Question Time a few days ago, in response to the Azione parliamentary group.

The minister also highlighted the measures in place to ensure that schools can remain open even in small communities. Starting with the Caivano decree, which allows headteachers to waive the minimum number of pupils per class in schools located on small islands, in mountain communities, in geographical areas inhabited by linguistic minorities, in areas where young people face social difficulties, or in areas characterised by the presence of pupils with learning difficulties.

This provision had initially been intended solely for disadvantaged areas in the South, but was subsequently extended: once its effectiveness and sustainability had been established, it was extended to the whole of the country under the so-called ‘Mountain Act’ (Law 131 of 2025).

Under the same Act, Valditara added, ‘we have also introduced a tax credit for school staff working in mountain schools, specifically to encourage as many teachers as possible to remain at these schools: an incentive that will come into effect from the next academic year, as the Unified Conference has not yet reached an agreement on the list of eligible municipalities’.

Furthermore, we have taken a number of measures to support schools and staff in the areas affected by the earthquakes in central Italia, which remain one of the most vulnerable parts of our school network. Since 2023, funding has in fact been increased to provide additional ‘exceptional’ places, thereby ensuring the continuity of education in schools affected by the earthquakes of 2016 and 2017 in Lazio, Marche, Umbria, Abruzzo and Campania, rising from 2.4 to 4 million euros per year.