In September the hour of civic education returns: this is why it is good news

Others, besides the more than 8 million students, will return to school in Italy in September: in May, in fact, the Parliament approved a bill that provides for the reintroduction of civic education time in primary and secondary school starting from the next year. As can be seen from the text of the law this new (old) subject will be mandatory and with a vote in the report card, as well as being the subject of an examination both in middle school and high school. But that is not all: its educational offer has been revised with respect to the past, to make it closer to the needs of modern society: here then, in the annual 33 hours that will be devoted to this subject, the learning objectives must be achieved on “principles of legality, active and digital citizenship, environmental sustainability, the right to health and to the well-being of the person”. In September it will begin, but are the schools ready?

Teacher training. All classes will have a teacher responsible for the “new teaching” who will also play the role of coordinator, but the measure repeats in several points that from this “must not derive new or greater burdens on public finance”. No new teachers, therefore: to teach the discipline will be the staff already present in the school. Furthermore, there is no provision for compensation for this activity but the institute may use the fund to improve the educational offer to update its coordinators. This aspect will be fundamental: the designated teachers will have to acquire in a short time content, information and methodologies to teach the students, but above all involve them. The law provides for a 4 million fund for training starting in 2020 and the MIUR in the coming months should share the first guidelines, which identify the objectives and skills required on these specific issues.

Digital education and environmental sustainability: a look at the future. Civic education will go hand in hand with respect for the environment and digital: two fundamental components for the future, on which it is important to start reflecting also within the school system. On the one hand, climate change and global warming, issues already very dear to young people, on the other Cyberbullying and data protection, but also active citizenship, fake news, communication, and digital identity. The latter, in particular, are themes and educational objectives of digital education, listed in article 5 of the bill: topics that Impactscool, through its formats and its participatory methodologies, is already bringing to schools.

Consult rights and awards for good practices. The text also provides for the establishment of the Council on the rights and duties of the digital adolescent, which works in coordination with the technical committee for the prevention and contrast of cyberbullying. an annual national competition will be established for each order and level of education for the enhancement of the best experiences. Finally, the Municipalities will also play an important role in this process and can promote various initiatives in collaboration with schools.

The future is open source, everyone can participate in its construction: it is essential, however, to have the knowledge and tools to do their own part. The reintroduction of civic education, with the provisions of the new legislation, is certainly good news, a first step towards the creation of a common awareness around issues that will be crucial for our future. It is an opportunity to be exploited to the fullest and teachers can be ready: Impactscool is launching an ad hoc educational program capable of responding to the need for training, materials available free of charge with creative commons license, and constantly updated content available to teachers who can be certified with Impactscool methods and start bringing in schools not only civic education but also the future.