Pozzuoli: Maiorana High School students strike over rats at school: "Health comes first."

Pozzuoli – Students at the Ettore Majorana High School in Monterusciello have been barred from class for two days. The protest stemmed from the reported presence of rats in the school and the demand, shared by families and students, for immediate action to restore adequate sanitation.

According to parents and students, the principal has already scheduled a rodent control program for Friday. At the same time, she believes there are currently no grounds for suspending classes. This is precisely the point at which the disagreement centers: continuing school attendance while the problem hasn't yet been addressed.

Più Europa Pozzuoli has intervened in the matter, expressing solidarity with students and families and calling for clarity on the safety conditions of the building. "Schools must be, above all else, safe places. We cannot allow boys and girls to choose between the right to education and concerns for their health," it reads in a statement. If the presence of rodents were confirmed, the party adds, "all the prevention and protection measures envisaged" would be needed, and quickly.

For Riccardo Volpe, a city councilor for Più Europa in Pozzuoli, the fact that the students themselves are reporting the problem makes the protest even more significant. "It deserves a hearing, respect, and concrete answers. It can't be dismissed as a simple expression of discontent."

Volpe calls for a transparent discussion between management, families, and the relevant authorities, without politicians replacing health authorities or schools in the technical assessments. These assessments, however, "must be conducted promptly and communicated clearly." The extent of the problem must be ascertained, any health and safety risks verified, and a decision made, based on the findings, whether to temporarily suspend teaching activities.

Another element emerges from the testimonies collected from families. This isn't the first time that critical issues with school services have surfaced at the school: poor bathroom facilities have been reported in the past.

Circumstances, the note underlines, on which it is appropriate to obtain clarification.
Volpe is keen to point out that the goal is not to personally criticize the principal. "We ask that dialogue with students and parents always be based on openness and transparency. The authority of a school institution is also measured by its ability to address critical issues without underestimating the concerns of its community."

Più Europa Pozzuoli therefore calls for prompt intervention by the competent authorities, with the necessary health and hygiene checks, so that students, teachers, and staff can return to school in complete safety. "Solidarity with students cannot be limited to words. The right to education and the right to health are not alternatives: they must be guaranteed together."