Schools: agreement between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Mobility (MIM) and the Fire Service: promoting a culture of safety

The Under-Secretary of State for the Interior, Emanuele Prisco, and the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Academic Excellence, Paola Frassinetti, signed a memorandum of understanding today at the Ministry of the Interior to promote a culture of safety and risk prevention in schools of all levels.

The aim of this three-year agreement, which involves schools at all levels, is to provide pupils with the basic knowledge to recognise hazards and know how to act to protect themselves and others in the event of an emergency. It includes educational projects, awareness-raising campaigns, information materials, emergency drills and visits to local fire service stations. The activities will be accompanied by training courses for headteachers, teachers and administrative staff on evacuation procedures, first aid and emergency management.

“Let’s build the Italia of tomorrow, starting with the safety of our young people,” said Emanuele Prisco, Under-Secretary of State for the Interior. “Investing today to anticipate danger through education and information is the only way to prevent a risky situation from turning into a tragedy. Firefighters will visit classrooms to pass on their extraordinary wealth of operational expertise to young people, empowering them to become active citizens in protecting their own lives and those of others. Safety, in fact, is not merely a response to emergencies, but an investment in the future and a specific responsibility towards the younger generations: awareness can make all the difference in ensuring everyone’s safety, especially when every second counts.”

“When faced with a fire or another dangerous situation, fear and inexperience can leave children feeling disoriented. Teaching them from a young age to recognise risks, ask for help and follow instructions means giving them practical tools to protect themselves and others. Schools can achieve this through prevention education that combines knowledge with practical experience, with input from those who deal with emergencies on a daily basis. Collaboration with the fire service will bring these skills into the classroom, including through videos and materials using language appropriate for different age groups. ‘This initiative also forms part of civic education – learning to look after one’s own safety and that of those around us,’ said Paola Frassinetti, Under-Secretary of State for Education and Academic Excellence.
For secondary school pupils, there are also school-to-work training programmes and initiatives designed to help them acquire professional skills in the field of fire safety.