Mattarella champions inclusive education in Italy
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In Amatrice, Italy, President Sergio Mattarella opened the 2026/2027 school year at the Sergio Marchionne Institute, built to replace a school destroyed in the 2016 central Italy earthquake that killed 299 people and displaced 40,000.
Mattarella spoke against proposals to limit the number of foreign students in Italian schools, emphasizing the importance of education as a tool for social cohesion.
He cited Article 34 of the Italian Constitution, which states that schools should be open to everyone, and argued that schools should build connections and avoid creating barriers. The President also stressed the irreplaceable role of teachers, stating that machines cannot replace the human understanding a teacher brings to the classroom. He noted that teachers can interpret students’ needs in ways artificial intelligence cannot.
Mattarella shared memories of his own schooling, recalling the value of memorizing poetry and the importance of culture in fostering freedom. He delivered these remarks in Amatrice, a town still recovering from the 2016 earthquake, framing the rebuilding of schools as essential to rebuilding the social and ethical fabric of Italy. His speech offered a counterpoint to recent government discussions about limiting access to education for students who are not fluent in Italian.
