In recent years, the number of collapses in Italian schools has reached unprecedented levels. Between September 2023 and September 2024, as many as 69 incidents of structural collapsesa number never recorded in the last seven years.
In particular, 28 of these collapses occurred in the South and the Islands, as many in the North (40.5%) and 13 in the Center (19%). Most of these incidents did not happen suddenly, but were preceded by visible and often underestimated signals.
This dramatic situation raises a crucial question: how can we ensure greater safety in Italian schools?
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Missing certificates and buildings at risk
In addition to collapses, the safety of school buildings is severely compromised by the lack of fundamental certifications. More than half of the buildings do not have a certificate of habitability (59.16%) or a fire prevention certificate (57.68%).
Furthermore, 41.50% of school buildings have not been subjected to static testing, an essential check to ensure structural stability. Of a total of 40,133 school buildings, 2,876 are located in areas classified as seismic risk level 1 (the highest), and 14,467 in areas classified as seismic risk level 2.
This condition is particularly alarming considering that over 17,000 schools are located in high seismic risk areas, classified as zones 1 and 2.
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Slow improvements in seismic retrofitting works
The XII Cittadinanzattiva Report highlights small progress regarding seismic adaptation and improvement interventions in Italian schools. Only 3% of school buildings have benefited from structural works aimed at improving their seismic safety.
A slightly better figure concerns the 11.4% of buildings designed following the most recent anti-seismic regulations. Although this is a step forward, these numbers remain extremely low when compared to the number of schools located in high-risk seismic areas.
The delay in adaptation interventions remains a matter of vital importance, especially in a country like Italy, often subject to seismic events.
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Poor maintenance and widespread structural problems
The problem of safety in schools is not limited to collapses or lack of certifications. 64% of teachers interviewed by Cittadinanzattiva reported structural problems related to inadequate or even absent maintenance.
Water infiltration is the most common phenomenon, reported by 40.1% of respondents, followed by plaster detachments (38.7%) and the presence of humidity (38.2%). Furthermore, half of teachers (50.8%) noted unsafe conditions in buildings, although many of these reports led to only partial corrective interventions.
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Architectural barriers: a problem still unsolved
Another critical aspect related to the safety and accessibility of school buildings concerns the presence of architectural barriers, which continue to represent a significant obstacle for many students. According to the XXII Report of the Civic Observatory on School Safety, only 40% of Italian schools are accessible for students with motor disabilities.
The situation is particularly critical in the South, where accessibility levels are well below the national average. The most common barriers include the lack of adequate elevators, ramps to overcome differences in level, and bathrooms that are compliant with standards for people with disabilities.
This delay in structural adjustment interventions has serious consequences not only on the right to education of disabled students, but also on their social inclusion. While the PNRR provides funds for the removal of architectural barriers, the interventions carried out so far are still limited.
The report highlights how only 11% of schools have undertaken work to improve accessibility in the last school year. Closing this gap is essential to guarantee an inclusive and accessible school for all.
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Emergency simulations: still insufficient preparation
Emergency preparedness in schools is a key element in ensuring the safety of students and staff. According to the Cittadinanzattiva report, 92% of teachers have participated in emergency drills, which mainly focus on fire (79%) and earthquake (70%) simulations.
However, evidence relating to other emergencies, such as floods (5%) or volcanic risk (1%), was almost non-existent. This imbalance in preparedness reflects a lack of attention to increasingly frequent and disastrous climatic phenomena, as demonstrated by the increase in floods in various parts of Italy.
Nevertheless, emergency simulations remain an important step to ensure an adequate reaction in case of danger.
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Energy efficiency: an urgent challenge for Italian schools
In addition to structural safety, energy efficiency of school buildings represents a crucial challenge, especially in light of the ongoing energy crisis and climate change.
The XXII Report of the Civic Observatory on School Safety highlights how only 6% of Italian schools are equipped with air conditioning and ventilation systems, an extremely low percentage compared to current needs. Schools must be able to guarantee adequate internal climatic conditions, both during the warmer months and in winter, to ensure the well-being and concentration of students and school staff.
The PNRR provides for energy efficiency interventions for some schools, especially for those newly built or undergoing renovation. However, the numbers are still limited: out of over 40,000 school buildings in Italy, only a small part will be involved in these interventions in the coming years.
Ecological transition and energy self-sufficiency of schools should be top priorities, especially considering high energy costs and recent difficulties in ensuring the functioning of heating systems. Investing in solar systems, sustainable heating and ventilation systems is not only a matter of saving money, but also of long-term sustainability and environmental protection.
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Reductions and cuts in the PNRR
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), initially planned to improve the quality of school infrastructure, has suffered significant cuts. In particular, the resources allocated to nursery schools have been drastically reduced: from the 4.6 billion euros planned to create 264,480 new places, the figure has dropped to 3.245 billion for only 150,480 places.
There was also a reduction in the construction of new schools, from 195 to 166 buildings. Although the fund for renovation and seismic improvement increased by almost 500 million euros, the resources will still be insufficient to achieve the initial objectives, with fewer buildings involved than expected.
