ROME (Reuters) – Thousands of Italian parents, children and teachers protested in the country’s squares on Sunday against what they call the unnecessary closure of schools to try to curb COVID-19 infections.
The protests, the first of any importance against Mario Draghi’s government of national unity that took office last month, were held in more than 35 squares across the country, including Rome’s Piazza del Popolo and Rome’s Piazza del Popolo. Piazza Duomo in Milan.
Protesters in Rome wore hat caps to indicate the impact of the closures on student education, while in Milan students ’messages and posters were propped up against school backpacks placed on the ground.
Figures at each site were limited due to coronavirus restrictions at meetings.
“Open schools, everything you need,” read a poster a child had in Rome, referring to Draghi’s famous promise to save the euro when he was head of the European Central Bank in 2012.
Most Italian schools for all ages have been closed since March 15, when Draghi stepped up efforts to control the virus and students attended online classes from home.
“We demand one thing: that our schools receive the status of essential public services and be reopened immediately,” the Rome branch of the national network “Open Schools” that organized the demonstrations said in a statement.
Since the outbreak in Italy began 13 months ago, schools have closed and opened at various times depending on age groups and local infection levels, but overall there has been less face-to-face schooling than in most other European countries.
The latest closures were the last straw of millions of parents forced to work from home or pay for childcare.
The government says closures are needed due to rising infection rates, and in particular the rising prevalence of the first-discovered variant in the UK, where the contagion is high among younger age groups.
Draghi promised on Friday that schools would be the first to reopen when current COVID restrictions are reduced.
Gavin Jones Reports; Edited by Frances Kerry