Many cases of students assaulting teachers, Italy restores conduct point policy

The conduct points policy - which was abolished in 2000 - is part of an education bill passed by the Italian parliament on September 25, according to The Guardian .

Specifically, the maximum conduct score is 10 points. At the end of the year, if the conduct score is lower than 5, middle and high school students will be "retained in the same grade", regardless of their satisfactory academic scores in the subjects.

Besides, conduct score is a condition that affects the ability of students to take the high school graduation exam or not.

Giuseppe Valditara, Italy's education minister, called it “an educational reform” aimed at restoring students' sense of personal responsibility and respect for teachers.

The new law also introduces administrative fines of 500 to 10,000 euros for acts of aggression or assault against teachers and school staff.

The Italian Association of Head Teachers (ANP) has voiced its support for a new law on conduct points after the number of incidents of student aggression and assault on teachers in the past nine months (since January 2024) increased by more than 110% compared to the same period in 2023.

In many cases, teachers are rushed to the hospital. In other cases, parents are the perpetrators. Students often clash with teachers over the use of cell phones in the classroom.

According to Reuters , Italy banned phones in schools in 2007. Since taking office in 2022, Education Minister Valditara has continued to tighten this ban.

Students in Italy will be "retained" if their conduct score is below 5.

Antonello Giannelli, president of the ANP, said the conduct score was “a step forward”. “We have seen too many cases of undisciplined and erratic behaviour. Students need to reflect on their sense of responsibility for the consequences of their actions.”

However, there are also opinions that the issued conduct points are aimed at reinforcing a “culture of authoritarianism and punishment”.

Conduct points were first introduced under Prime Minister Benito Mussolini (1883 - 1945) in 1924 and were abolished in 2000 after student protests.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhieu-vu-hoc-sinh-hanh-hung-giao-vien-y-khoi-phuc-chinh-sach-diem-hanh-kiem-18524092714432761.htm