Teachers, Students Across Italy Protest Against Education Reform

Strikes against educational reform are being held in Italy on Tuesday, with teachers, students, trade unions and educational institution heads participating in rallies across the country, local media reported.

ROME (Sputnik) — The educational reform program, entitled "Good School" was initiated by the government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in 2014. It envisages, above all, introducing private sector funding of schools, maintaining the system, whereby increases teacher wages depending on job seniority and bringing in unpaid apprenticeships for students studying technical subjects.

Opponents of the reforms claim they are an attempt by the Italian government to privatize the school system, leaving state schools without sufficient funding.

The protests are being held in Rome, Milan, Palermo, Bari, Catania, Aosta and Cagliari, Corriere della Sera reported.

The bill was approved by the cabinet in March, sparking mass protests across the country. According to Il Messaggero, legislators will vote on the bill before May 19.

Local media also reported that protesters vowed more rallies until the bill is dropped. More demonstrations are expected to take place as soon as May 12.