Italian
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, concerning data on the accessibility of Italian institutions emerges
ITALY – The National Coordination of Teachers of Human Rights, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd, expresses strong concern regarding the data released by the latest report from the Civic Observatory on school safety. Just as global attention focuses on the rights and full participation of persons with disabilities, it becomes clear that our schools still struggle to provide adequate conditions for students who most need safe and accessible environments.
In just one year, the number of students with disabilities has significantly increased, rising from 321,185 in the 2023/2024 school year to 331,124 in 2024/2025. An increase of almost ten thousand students that unfortunately does not correspond to a structural improvement of school buildings, which are often inadequate to meet their needs. The picture is clear: only 41% of Italian schools can be considered truly accessible. The majority of institutions still present architectural barriers, unsuitable elevators, non-compliant restrooms, lack of tactile paths, or visual signage. These are obstacles that turn daily school life into an obstacle course and deny the effective exercise of the right to education.
We welcome the allocation from the Ministry of Education and Merit, which has earmarked 18.6 million euros for the removal of architectural barriers in state and parochial schools. This is an important step, part of the broader commitment of the PNRR to modernize and make educational environments more inclusive. However, we cannot ignore that these resources, while significant, are not enough to bridge a gap that has persisted for years and which, in light of the constant increase in students with disabilities, is more urgent than ever.
For this reason, the Coordination proposes to transform the planned interventions into a national plan for truly inclusive school construction. The goal is to move beyond the logic of fragmented works to instead initiate a design based on universal design, making school spaces accessible to everyone without the need for subsequent adaptations. The resources of the PNRR can become an opportunity to create flexible environments, equipped with assistive technologies and featuring safe and accessible pathways, capable of supporting truly participatory teaching.
Alongside structural interventions, we believe it is necessary to establish a constant national monitoring system that makes the accessibility status of schools transparent and allows for timely intervention where issues persist. Inclusion cannot be left to the goodwill of individual institutions: it must become a shared responsibility supported by clear governance and secure resources.
The Coordination therefore invites institutions to initiate a multi-year plan dedicated to school accessibility, with concrete objectives and defined timelines. In a country that sees an increasing number of students with disabilities each year, failing to intervene would mean consciously accepting that thousands of young people experience school as a place that excludes rather than welcomes.
On the occasion of December 3rd, we renew our commitment to making the Italian school truly an environment where every student, without exceptions, can feel recognized, supported, and free to fully participate in educational life. An accessible school is a school that respects human rights and builds the future.
