Italian Minister of Education Introduces Mandatory Classroom Cleaning by Students

The Italian education system is on the verge of a significant change in its approach to civic education. The Minister of Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara, has signed a circular that obliges students to clean their classrooms themselves after lessons end. The new rules cover not only classrooms but also laboratories, gyms, and toilet facilities. This initiative draws direct inspiration from the Japanese model, where caring for the shared environment is considered a fundamental element in character building and developing a sense of responsibility for the common good. The ministry emphasizes that the new practice is not merely technical but a form of active attitude formation. The ministry has allocated 30 million euros to support teaching projects in the field of environmental protection and the revitalization of green spaces around schools. This aims to counteract the growing phenomenon of vandalism and lack of respect for public property, which in the past generated high repair costs. A new element of the strategy is a system of rewards for classes that demonstrate the greatest care for cleanliness, which is intended to stimulate competition of a pro-social nature. The Japanese education model, known as Gakko Soji, assumes that children cleaning the school builds a sense of humility and belonging to the community, which in Italy is intended to be a response to the crisis of authority of public institutions. Parallel to the disciplinary actions, Minister Valditara announced record financial support for the southern part of the country. He declared the allocation of over 2 billion euros for the modernization of educational facilities in Campania. This investment aims not only to improve building safety but also to equip schools with modern laboratories. Combining hard investments with learning personal responsibility is intended to be the key to raising the prestige of Italian public schools. „Prendersi cura delle aule, delle palestre e dei servizi igienici favorisce l’acquisizione di buone abitudini e il rispetto dei beni.” (Taking care of classrooms, gyms, and restrooms fosters the acquisition of good habits and respect for property.) — Giuseppe Valditara This directive is part of a broader plan for education reform that emphasizes discipline and work culture. Although the idea sparks controversy among some parents and support staff, the ministry maintains that physical involvement in maintaining order is the best lesson in ecology. The proposed changes are to take effect immediately, and schools will receive guidelines on implementing the new rules into the daily schedule of the facilities.

Perspektywy mediów: There is an emphasis on the risk of shifting staff responsibilities onto students, which could lead to abuses and neglect of sanitary standards. There is a point made about the necessity of restoring discipline and teaching respect for taxpayers who finance repairs for school damages.