The Mussolini era seems to have inspired Italy’s far-right prime minister, Georgia Meloni, at least when it comes to the country’s education system, as new regulations to deal with school violence and attacks on teachers certainly resemble a dictatorship.

More specifically, as the German newspaper Bild reports, the Italian prime minister is reintroducing a conduct grade (“Voto di condotta”) in schools, which includes some “antiquated” – compared to today – regulations. In particular, a student who makes a fuss in class will not be promoted to the next class, no matter how good his grades are, which is just one of many similar measures that students and teachers in Italy will be confronted with.

The behaviour grade was introduced in 1924 in Italian schools under the fascist Benito Mussolini and was in force until the 1970s.

Under the “Meloni regime”, the behaviour grade will apply to high school and high school students, who will be assessed on the basis of their behaviour while at school. The score will be from 1 to 10.

Any student receiving a behavior score below average will remain in the same class. Even if he/she is good in the subjects. But, those who score a six will be forced to write an essay, under the heading: “Citizenship and Solidarity” to get promoted.

The reinstatement of the disciplinary measure is part of the education reform passed last week by Meloni’s ruling coalition.

Fines for violent students

At the same time, existing disciplinary measures in schools will also be tightened.

Typically, students who get suspended for long periods of time will face penalties such as community service.

Children and young people who become violent towards their teachers will in future have to pay fines of up to 10,000 euros, the 63-year-old Italian education minister, Juseppe Valditara, has claimed.

“The education reform will take into account the behaviour of students in the overall evaluation of their school performance. In addition, the reform will restore “the authority of teachers.” Meloni herself pledged that the new regulation would restore “respect” to Italian schools.

One of the reasons why these measures were taken is that, in Italy, attacks on teachers have recently increased more than 110% compared to 2023.

Italy’s Association of School Directors is in favor of the new law in contrast to the country’s opposition, which is harshly critical of the education reform, arguing that it is anachronistic and harsh.

Meloni’s right-wing governing coalition is following an authoritarian course in education policy, the German publication writes, recalling that, as recently as July, the Italian education ministry’s decision to ban smartphones in schools made headlines.