‘Chicken coop’ classes are those taught by teachers

With a delay of at least three years (Minister Valditara had sounded the alarm about the demographic crisis affecting teaching posts back in 2023, backed up by a Tuttoscuola investigation which counted 2,600 schools that had already closed in the previous decade, and furthermore, the Agnelli Foundation’s reports have been consistent for some time) the network of striking students has once again failed to grasp the reality of the situation: “Thousands of students have mobilised to demand better-funded state schools. The government’s response, however, is to cut 7,000 posts.” Following suit are the trade unions and the opposition: united in denouncing the alleged draconian cuts in the Budget Bill. This is not the case; one need only look at the demographic figures, which for over a decade have indicated a structural decline in pupil numbers – a phenomenon now evident at every level of schooling – and the consequent surplus of an ever-increasing number of teachers. The 7,000 cuts, of which 5,000 are teaching posts, are in practice simply a failure to replace staff as they leave. The reason is clear: there are fewer classes to teach in (spoiler: before long there will even be empty school buildings whose future will need to be considered). As Andrea Gavosto, president of the Agnelli Foundation, explained, between 2025 and 2030 the number of school-age children (aged 3–18) will fall by 796,000, a reduction of 10 per cent: “Around 40,000 fewer classes, which effectively corresponds to 70,000 fewer teachers… that works out at roughly 11,000 a year, spread over five years. So, paradoxically, the reduction in teaching staff should actually be double that set out in the Budget Law.” The trade unions argue that class sizes should be reduced in order to absorb the surpluses. However, quite apart from the fact that ‘overcrowded classrooms’ exist only in sensationalist journalism, it should be noted, as analysts explain, that over the last ten years, despite the fall in pupil numbers, the number of teachers has increased by 142,000 (124,000 of whom are support teachers, speaking of inclusion). What is needed is a rethink of the school system for the Italy of the future, not taking to the streets to demand permanent posts.