"September School Opening No" vs "What About Parents"… Italy Heatwave Sparks Conflict

"Delay School Start from September to October," Teachers' Union Claims
Teachers' Union: "Administration Must Change with Climate Change"
Parents: "Burden of Summer Camp Costs... Need for Rest"

Photo unrelated to the article. [Photo by Pixabay]

In Italy, opinions between teachers and parents clashed over the timing of the school reopening.

Public broadcaster Rai News reported on the 22nd (local time) that the national teachers' union in Italy demanded a delay in the start of the school term due to the heatwave.

According to the report, Marcello Pacifico, president of the National Association of Teachers and Educators (ANIEF), submitted a petition to Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara proposing to postpone the school reopening from mid-September to October.

President Pacifico said, "Starting classes in mid-September amid such extreme heat is absurd," adding, "We need foresight. The government must begin administrative changes based on the climate."

They sent letters to the president of the Italian Pediatric Society and the president of the Federation of Pediatricians and Adolescent Medicine, requesting scientific opinions on the school reopening delay. This was due to concerns about heat-related illnesses that could affect teachers and students during the heatwave.

However, the parents' association opposes the delay. Most Italian parents send their children to summer camps during the three-month summer vacation, and a postponed school start would increase the financial burden of camp fees.

Currently, an online petition has emerged in Italy stating that "long vacations deepen inequality, cause students to lose cognitive abilities and social skills," and "disrupt the work-life balance of parents." It is reported that a total of 60,000 people have signed the petition so far.

Meanwhile, schools in Italy generally reopen in mid-September. Although Italy is currently experiencing record-breaking heat due to abnormal weather caused by global warming, most schools are known to lack air conditioning facilities.