Pioltello School, closure confirmed for the end of Ramadan

The Pioltello school will close on April 10, the day Ramadan ends. The Institute Council of the Iqbal Masih comprehensive institute in Pioltello decided this, with a unanimous vote, after having reviewed the resolution for the suspension of lessons, declared irregular by the regional school office.

There was only one change: the underlining that there is only an educational motivation underlying the decision. It is explained that the choice is linked only to the numerous foreseeable absences on the public holiday for the majority of the school's students. This motivation was defined as incomplete in the first draft by the Minister of Education, Giuseppe Valditara. On Tuesday morning the decision was communicated to the regional school office.

The Minister of Education and Merit expected something else. «I believe that with a great spirit of collaboration the school council can consider what was my invitation, that of ensuring that the school can be kept open on 10 April, because I don't believe that inclusion is achieved by closing schools, but ptalking about problems, dialogue between religions, inclusion and integration. With great serenity I expect that the irregularities that the inspectors have identified will be remedied.”

According to the regional school office, the Pioltello school would have exceeded the three days available to add to the holidays. These are those days that schools often use to extend weekends in the event of holidays close to Sunday. They do it because on those days there are usually few people present. Those who opposed the opening also said a new holiday could not be established.

Once again on Sunday, the Archbishop of Milan Mario Delpini said he was in favor of the choice of school. «A national case has been made of a choice that is within the prerogatives of the school. It was a kind of crusade that complicated life for the city, for the principal, for the teachers.”