1. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna THE TEACHING MISSION

2. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna The Italian state school staff regulations are based on the national contract signed on 29/11/2007 The staff includes all teachers working in all types of schools It also includes the general, technical and administrative staff working in all types of schools

3. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna How teachers are recruited Second level university degree Teacher’s diploma exam State competition Inclusion in regional and provincial leagues Teaching post in a school Permanent teaching position after 1 year trial

4. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna FUTURE PLANS (last competiton held 10 years ago) Numerus clausus for university students aspiring to become teachers, based on the country’s real needs (first strict selection with entry test) 5 years of university studies 1 year of unpaid training (under the supervision of a tutor) Competitions held every 2 years Diversified careers Salaries linked to merit and results achieved

5. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna TEACHING FUNCTION Capo IV art.26 CCLN 29/11/2007 at the start of the school year the Principal draws up the annual plan of activities and of teachers’ commitments, according to the the school bodies’ proposals Teaching activities Activities connected with teaching Additional activities

6. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna TEACHING ACTIVITIES In kindergartens teaching involves 25 hours a week, in primary schools 22 hours a week and in secondary schools 18 hours, to be done in no less than 5 days a week

7. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna Activities connected with teaching art.29 CCLN 29/11/2007 They include all the commitments that teachers have in the various types of schools, including collective activities: planning, design, research, assessment, reading up, keeping up-to- date and training, taking part in the meetings of the school bodies and implementing the decisions of such bodies.

8. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna Individual duties and collective activities Class preparation Test correction Individual contact with students’ families Taking part in the meetings of the Teachers’ Board Planning and monitoring at the start and at the end of the school year Informing families about the students’ results at the end of each term and of the school year, for a total amount of 40 hours a year Class meetings including representatives of parents and students Meetings to assign final marks, exams and drawing up of assessment reports

9. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna Additional activities Coordination in designing, implementing, assessing and evaluating the school activities Supporting the Principal in the school organization Coordination of school departments, research groups and working committees Coordination of or responsibility for or participation in projects which may involve other schools Tutoring Designing teaching policies Production of teaching materials

10. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna TEACHERS’ RIGHTS Right to their function: teacher’s right to be assigned to a students’ class. Except in the cases provided for by law or by the national contract, teachers cannot be sent away from their school nor can they be dismissed. Right to be paid Right to their career and pay increases Union rights (leaves of absence, meetings, union representation, strikes) Right to training

11. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna RIGHT TO TRAINING art. 63 e 64 CCLN 29/11/2007 Participating in training and activities aimed at keeping up-to-date is the teachers’ right in that it enables their professional fulfilment and development; training activities usually take place after normal working hours Teachers are entitled to 5 days off each school year to take part in training activities and have the right to be replaced by their colleagues.

12. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna OFFICIALLY AUTHORIZED TRAINING BODIES art.67 CCLN 29/11/2007 Universities University-interuniversity consortiums Regional school inspectorate Ex IRRE (Regional educational agency) and state research institutes

13. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna TEACHERS’ DUTIES School staff must behave properly, respect timetables and not infringe prohibitions and office incompatibilities provided for by law Teachers cannot give private lessons to pupils attending the school where they teach or wishing to take exams in it or to students of a school where they may be sent as external examiners Teachers are obliged to inform the Principal about their teaching activity School staff cannot do activities which are not compatible with a state job Teachers may practise an external profession as long as it is legally compatible with their teaching activity and the Principal gives his/her authorization.

14. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna Critical issues in the school world Norberto Bottani(a pedagogist) states:‘The Italian school system is is known to have always tolerated a continuous change in teachers from one year to the next because of the huge number of teachers who have a temporary contract or because teachers who do have a permanent position are entitled to apply annually to be transferred to another school of their choice‘. Surveys on school effectiveness have shown that the following requirements are essential: Stable cooperation between teachers in the same school Shared agreement with pupils and their families on educational principles Agreement on the results to be achieved both in terms of education and knowledge Solidarity between colleagues and friendly school environment ALL THIS IS POSSIBLE IF TEACHERS HAVE A STABLE POSITION!!

15. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna Cooperation and shared agreement Group (tutor) meetings to help students achieve better results and get them to share rules and proper conduct Principals who share with teachers the responsibility of achieving the educational objectives Support and tutoring for new teachers by ‘experienced' teachers Involving students in the educational and learning project including also the use of new methodologies in order to develop critical and creative thought.

16. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna HOW DOES SOCIETY PERCEIVE THE JOB OF TEACHERS? It is not an enviable job It is not well paid Families often act as antagonists It is a job for women It is a job with many drawbacks

17. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna CONCLUSIONS We hope that: Praiseworthy schools and teachers will be recognized more and more New methodologies will improve students’ motivation Politics and society will rediscover the priceless value of culture and education

18. Comenius Regio 'Yes'26-28 aprile Bologna THANK YOU AND 'AD MAIORA' Cristina Donà ITC Rosa Luxemburg-Bologna