Il population decline which is currently affecting Italy will have significant repercussions on the school of the country in the coming years. According to an analysis based on data from the Ministry of Education and Istat, a 2035% reduction in the number of students between 21,4 and 5 years old is expected by 14. This demographic decline will have impacts at the national level, but with significant differences between the various regions.
School, the regions most affected by the decline
La Sardinia is the most affected region, with a loss of approximately 30% of students in this age group. Other regions in the South, such as Campania , Calabria, will follow a similar trend, but with slightly lower percentages. The causes of this phenomenon are multiple and include low birth rates, an aging population, and youth emigration.
Il population decline is already being felt in schools, with many institutions facing a drop in enrollment and this could lead to a reorganization of school resources and structures. The risk of school closures, particularly in the more peripheral and rural areas, is real, with consequences not only on the quality of the educational offering, but also on the maintenance of jobs. The future of the Italian school, therefore, will have to deal with a growing reduction in students, but also with the need to adapt to new challenges.
Fewer teachers or smaller classes?
Faced with this crisis, the feeling is that the competitions for teachers (or at least the places available), given that there is a risk of arriving at a saturation. Otherwise, one could think of classes with fewer and fewer students, also useful for the personalization of study and an increasingly inclusive scholastic perspective.
In conclusion, the demographic crisis that is hitting Italy will have a direct impact on schools and education, requiring targeted political and social responses to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of the education system in a rapidly changing context.
