Thousands of Italian school and
university students protested in the streets across the country
Friday 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 said was aimed at focusing on the brightest in place of
providing for the educational needs of all, and possibly
introducing streaming which is said to be against the Italian
Constitution because it discriminates against some.
Students protest 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 that "there are some that appreciate the new name of
the ministry, including the national association of teachers".
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