Rebellion against Italian education reform grows

tags: Italy schools universities occupations strikes October 26th, 2008 by elios

Protest against government cuts in school and university research funding has escalated with mass street demonstrations and occupations spreading across the country.

Massive protests are taking place in many Italian cities and towns against Berlusconi's government school reforms, which consist of cuts on public university and research funds, the introduction of student behavior evaluation and the separation of foreign students from the Italian ones in different classes.

For almost 1 month throughout Italy High Schools and Universities have been occupied by students and teachers, and lessons are taking place outdoors.

Massive street protests have disrupted the normal functioning of the cities.

The demonstrations are growing as they go along and this trend is expected to continue next month.

There was an assault on the Roma Film Festival as Al Pacino arrived, and on Sunday primary schools children joined the protest.

Many of the demonstrations have been of a highly creative and amusing variety. The mainstream media has remained quite quiet on the issue, but News has been spreading via social networking and user generated content websites such as youtube.

Here are some examples:

PISA:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zOjyVoK9OJ4
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=i_UTJLSgBx0&feature=rela...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=L9atLexVxds&feature=rela...

MILAN
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BmzCmBQTNuc
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eE6OYF2Ubp8&feature=rela...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lFzSFI_kXpM&feature=rela...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HTr9YxV4tEk&feature=rela...

ROME
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5F6AZ_kL6l8&feature=rela... (lesson outside the Parliament)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=95qwE4XLIhg
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V_AEnya7oYY (Rage Against the Machine)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zoAfMj0fXdY&feature=rela...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9eHjZM2fZf4 (Roma Film Festival)

SKY TV
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zAB00aRW01I&feature=rela... (the News crew was attacked after accusing the students of forcing the police barriers)

FLORENCE
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6YLY_5dyBVg (death of education)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHRRZY96xyM&feature=rela... (brain hunt)
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=ofjCoFYVycA&feature=rela... (D&B off the Duomo)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vJTZnYlS5uo&feature=rela...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NajWUGuBJ-0&NR=1
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc75X8JBOnU&feature=rela...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Detmsdks9bM&feature=rela...

PALERMO
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=T8jf6NRS6LE&feature=rela...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hjUK0zH8CTE&feature=rela...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=o9JiZ-Tqkuw&feature=rela...

TRIESTE
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=70hU2Mjc7kk

AND MANY OTHER CITIES
http://www.beppegrillo.it/ (click on the Italian flag and on the banner on top of the page)

Elios. Slightly edited by libcom