Italy Extends School Inspections Over Albanese Talks to Emilia-Romagna

Overview

• Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara confirmed that inspections requested in Tuscany are being extended to at least two schools in Emilia-Romagna that hosted or connected with UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese.
• Officials will verify whether principals were informed and whether parents were involved in organizing the events, following claims reported by some school leaders.
• Inspectors will also assess press-reported allegations that Albanese labeled the government "fascist" or "complicit in genocide" or encouraged students to occupy schools, which the ministry says must be clarified.
• The ministry recently issued a circular requiring contraddittorio for guests addressing politically or socially sensitive topics, emphasizing pluralism over indoctrination.
• Any consequences will be determined by regional school offices after reviewing inspectors’ reports, as parents’ groups and student unions criticize the move as censorious and warn of chilling effects on school programming.