Italy’s schools will reopen in September, prime minister Giuseppe Conte said in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, but added that expert studies showed the risk of contagion was very high.
Stressing that the “health of our children is at stake,” Conte also underlined that the average age of Italy’s teachers is among the highest in Europe, but stated that teaching remotely is “working well on average.”
We asked some local expat moms living in the city to answer some of our questions.
What was your first reaction when you heard the news?
Charlotte (UK): We were expecting the schools to stay closed until September. It seems as if everyone has been hinting at it for some time, with talk circulating of the government maybe opening the schools earlier in September to compensate a little (wonder if this will happen).
Nissrine (Canada): I figured schools wouldn’t reopen. It would require way too many people to be out and about and in confined spaces (e.g. the classroom) together. Doesn’t make sense to open them.
Maria (US): I knew that this would happen but it made me feel sad. My two year old really misses her asilo buddies.
Will you be able to continue working?
Charlotte (UK): Working with a small child has been difficult. My husband is using his holidays so he can work only four days a week, and I work two days and some evenings, and we have one family day a week…I suppose we’ll continue as is and hope we have enough holiday days!
Nissrine (Canada): Working with a small child is hard. My husband works long hours even on lockdown and doesn’t have flexibility in that they still have deadlines and conference calls and are expected to be just as productive as before so weekdays are all on me with our daughter. I use TV when I need to get work done and feel really guilty about it. I also use parts of the weekend to work while my husband stays with our daughter.
Maria (US): We are thinking about getting the baby sitter bonus for June or July when I’ll have exams to grade (which means I won’t be able to just work in the evenings or during the weekends like I do now), but we haven’t figured out the technicalities yet.
What has been the most challenging aspect of a lockdown with kids? What has been the best?
Charlotte (UK): Not being able to work properly, and dealing with the understandable tantrums and nerves caused by confinement is the hardest part. The best part of this lockdown has definitely been getting to spend more time with my kid.
Nissrine (Canada): Not having any time to myself is the hardest part. But the best part is definitely spending more time together as a family.
Maria (US): Working in the evenings after a day spent with a two year old can be challenging. But getting to spend time with her is the best.
By In Trieste
