On Friday, thousands of Italian school and university students protested in the streets across the country, rallying against Giorgia Meloni’s new rightwing government’s stipulation that merit must be rewarded in the education system.
At its inception, Meloni changed the name of the education ministry to “Ministry of Education and Merit”; a change that critics say was aimed at focusing on the brightest, rather than seeking to provide for the educational needs of all.
Critics also lambasted the potential introduction of streaming, which is said to be against the Italian Constitution because it is discriminatory.
Students protested against the new emphasis on merit in small and larger cities including Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Genoa and Bologna, carrying banners that read “what merit?”, “merit is only propaganda” ,”this is the demo of the discriminated”, and “no to the school of the bosses”.
Education and Merit Minister Giuseppe Valditara has denied the charges made by the students and the political opposition, and has said:
“There are some that appreciate the new name of the ministry, including the national association of teachers.”
