The northern Italian region of
Trentino-Alto Adige on Monday became the first Italian region to
inaugurate the post-COVID era by reopening a week before schools
across the country.
Some 91,797 pupils returned to nurseries and schools in the
region bordering Austria after a six-month closure for the
coronavirus emergency.
Nursery schools also reopened in the Veneto town that saw the
first COVID death in Italy on February 21: Vò Euganeo near
Padua.
Meanwhile Education Minister Lucia Azzolian hit back at attacks
from nationalist opposition League party leader Matteo Salvini
who has branded her "incompetent" and called school reopening
plans "chaotic".
Noting that Salvini has been criticising her "every day", the
populist 5-Star Movemet (M5S) member said "he is using the
school issue as an electoral club" ahead of elections in seven
Italian regions and hundreds of towns on September 20-21.
"Has he got a conscience or is he only sowing panic among
students?"
Azzolina pointed out that opposition parties have worked with
the government on the COVID emergency in other countries.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
