In a move that has sparked significant debate among educators and unions, the Italian Ministry of Education has unveiled a draft decree concerning the allocation of teaching staff for the 2025/26 school year. The provision, which aims to establish classes in derogation from the standard size limits, was presented to unions on April 28, 2025, and is rooted in Law 234/2021. This law seeks to create smaller class groups in schools facing social, economic, or cultural challenges, as well as in areas experiencing depopulation or high dropout rates.
According to UIL Scuola, this measure is described as "at zero cost" and raises concerns about its effectiveness in aiding territories with a significant number of disadvantaged students. The ministry has allocated a total of 6,566 posts for classes that will be established under this derogation, a decrease of 166 spots compared to the previous academic year. This reduction marks a significant drop from the initial implementation in the 2022/23 school year, when 8,741 posts were activated.
The allocation of these posts is intended for schools characterized by specific social and economic indicators, including high dropout rates and low educational attainment. The ministry's approach aims to ensure continuity of service in areas facing particular hardships, such as mountainous communities and small islands. However, critics argue that the current allocation does not sufficiently address the needs of regions with the highest concentrations of disadvantaged students.
The draft decree emphasizes the importance of focusing resources on institutions with critical social and economic conditions, prioritizing areas with high levels of school dropout. Specific attention will also be given to the first classes of new lyceum courses and technological-professional training experiments within upper secondary education.
For the 2025/26 school year, the distribution of the 6,566 posts is as follows: Emilia-Romagna leads with 719 posts, followed by Veneto with 644 and Liguria with 595. In the southern regions, Campania received 471 posts while Sicily was allocated 297. Notably, Sardinia has been allocated only 25 posts, reflecting the challenges faced by less populated areas.
Despite the targeted allocation, unions have expressed concerns over the overall decrease in teaching posts. UIL Scuola highlighted that the current approach fails to provide a comprehensive vision for addressing the issue of classes with disadvantaged students. They argue that the benefits derived from the decree favor regions with declining student populations, rather than those with the greatest need.
Moreover, the presence of 5,909 classes in secondary education with 28 or more pupils has been described as an affront to any educational process. This statistic contradicts the government’s stated objectives of reducing overcrowded classrooms, raising questions about the effectiveness of current policies.
Critics stress that the ongoing demographic decline should not be viewed as a setback but rather as an opportunity for reform. They advocate for a shift towards personalized teaching methods and smaller class sizes to enhance educational outcomes. The unions continue to push for structural interventions that would prevent cuts to teaching staff and instead utilize existing resources to reduce the number of students per class.
As the Ministry of Education prepares to finalize the decree, the implications for students and educators across Italy remain a topic of heated discussion. The unions are calling for a reassessment of the allocation criteria and a more holistic approach to addressing educational disparities. With the school year approaching, the pressure mounts on policymakers to ensure that all students receive the support they need to thrive.
In summary, while the draft decree aims to address educational challenges in specific regions, the reduction in teaching posts and the allocation criteria have raised significant concerns among educators and unions. The ongoing dialogue highlights the need for a more comprehensive strategy to support disadvantaged students and ensure equitable access to quality education across Italy.
