The Chamber of Deputies has definitively approved the government-initiated bill presented by the Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara, to revise the regulations on the evaluation of female and male students, to protect the authority of school personnel, as well as differentiated school curricula.
The measure, which had already been approved by the Senate, consists of three articles. It intervenes, as illustrated, in the Chamber at Montecitorio, during the general discussion, by the rapporteur, Grazia Di Maggio, of Fratelli d'Italia, on the periodic and final evaluation of the learning of female and male students, establishing that in the Primary School - former Elementary School, starting from the 2024-2025 school year, this evaluation is expressed with synthetic judgments related to the description of the levels of learning achieved.
The assessment of learning in lower secondary school, however, remains carried out in tenths. The definition of the methods of assessment, both for primary school and lower secondary school, is delegated to an ordinance of the Minister of Education and Merit.
As for the evaluation of pupils' behaviour, it is expected that while in primary school it will be expressed collegially by teachers with a synthetic judgement reported in the evaluation document, in lower secondary school it will be expressed in tenths.
It is specified that if the behavior evaluation of the students of the lower secondary school is less than six tenths, the class council decides not to admit them to the next class or to the final state exam of the study path.
In the case of a behavioral evaluation of six tenths, the class council will assign the development of a critical essay on active and supportive citizenship, to be discussed in the interview of the final exam of the second cycle. In the case of a behavioral evaluation of less than six tenths, the class council will decide not to admit to the final state exam of the course of study.
It is provided that the highest score within the range for the attribution of the school credit due on the basis of the average of the grades reported on the final exam can be awarded only if the behavior grade recorded is equal to or greater than nine tenths.
And it is also established, within the scope of the transversal teaching of civic education, that in addition to the themes that constitute its specific object, road safety education, education on health and well-being, education on volunteering and active and supportive citizenship are also promoted.
One or more regulations, adopted within 180 days of the date of entry into force of the law, are assigned the task of reviewing the discipline on the evaluation of the behavior of female and male students, with the aim of restoring the culture of respect, reaffirming the authority of teachers of secondary and high school institutions in the national education and training system.
But also to reform the institution of expulsion from school for a period not exceeding 15 days, providing that, if the expulsion ordered lasts up to two days inclusive, the student must be involved in in-depth activities on the consequences of the behaviors that have determined the subsequent disciplinary measure, and that, if the expulsion ordered lasts more than two days, the student must carry out, possibly even after returning to class, activities of solidarity citizenship.
It is also expected that the attribution of a conduct grade lower than six tenths and the consequent non-admission to the next class and to the state exam will also occur in the face of behaviors that constitute serious and repeated disciplinary shortcomings, also with reference to the violations provided for by the school regulations.
It is therefore established that the attribution of a grade of conduct lower than six tenths, during the periodic evaluation phase, entails involvement in in-depth activities on active citizenship and greater weight is given to the grade of conduct, in particular in the face of violent or aggressive acts.
There is also room for interventions on the sections with differentiated teaching methods, with the updating of the discipline on the activation of the sections and classes operating with the Montessori method, within the Nursery School and Primary School, and it is provided that the Opera nazionale Montessori will continue to provide its technical assistance to nursery schools and the first cycle of education where teaching is practiced with the Montessori method, as established in a specific agreement to be stipulated between the ministry and the Opera, and to publicly and privately managed private schools, as provided in specific agreements to be stipulated between the manager and the Opera.
Starting from the 2025-2026 school year, first-cycle educational institutions may request the establishment of Montessori-method middle school classes, according to the principles and methodological criteria already adopted in the three-year national experiment currently underway. Montessori-method middle school classes are assigned teachers with a specific qualification in Montessori method didactic differentiation for teaching in middle school, obtained following a course to be established with the implementing ministerial decree.
The Ministry of Education and Merit will be able to authorize the holding, at universities and training institutions, of annual courses in didactic differentiation using the Agazzi method for nursery schools and the Pizzigoni method for primary schools.
Finally, the green light is given to measures to protect the authority and decorum of school institutions and staff, establishing that with the conviction for crimes committed against a school principal or a member of the teaching, educational, administrative, technical or auxiliary staff of the School, because of or in the exercise of his office or functions, it is always ordered, in addition to any compensation for damages, the payment of a sum of between 500 and 10.000 euros as pecuniary compensation, in favor of the school institution to which the injured party belongs.
Article published on 25 September 2024 - 13:38
