How deep is the night? The Italian school system and the obsession with the Big Reform

Journal title PASSATO E PRESENTE
Author/s Simonetta Soldani
Publishing Year 2016 Issue 2016/97
Language Italian Pages 21 P. 5-25 File size 155 KB
DOI 10.3280/PASS2016-097001
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Starting with the 1990s the long-term paralysis that for decades had crippled the Italian school system has been broken by a series of repeated attempts of reform, poorly received by most of those who live and work in the school system. These attempts have all been characterized by a neoliberal approach, centred on different versions of the so-called «school autonomy» - initially perceived as an opportunity for more freedom as against the slow, intrusive and ubiquitous presence of State bureaucracy. This article looks at the different stages in this 25-year-long process, characterized by increasing budget cuts, large and vibrant protest movements, the economic crisis, and the political and cultural hegemony of the right-wing parties, advocating for a more hierarchical restructuring of schools, teaching and students as well as an entrepreneurial, privatistic and vocational view of education.

Keywords: Reform of the school system, Education, School autonomy, Law 107/2015, Italy

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Simonetta Soldani, Editoriale. A che punto è la notte? Il mondo della scuola e l’ossessione della Grande Riforma in "PASSATO E PRESENTE" 97/2016, pp 5-25, DOI: 10.3280/PASS2016-097001