Maturity: the prize will be 255 euros, the fee still decreases

In late January, the Ministry of Education has published the materials of the second round and especially oral confirmed that there will be no envelopes, which last year created anxiety to leavers. Thus, they could increase the chances for deserving students to take top marks in the 2020 State exam : the much coveted 100 and honors. What perhaps not everyone knows, however, is that together with the diploma with honors, it is also possible to have a cash prize. A tradition that - as the Skuola.net website reminds us - has been repeated since 2007, when the then Minister of Education Fioroni introduced the maturity bonus. Each year the share of this award varies: for example, 2019 graduates will have to settle for something less than their predecessors. At the beginning it was even a thousand euros.

The award tied to 100 and honors expected for the accrued in 2019 , will be - as established by the Ministry of Education with the circular published last February 13 - of 255 euros per student: a decidedly reduced amount compared to previous years. The reason is easy to say: at the last state exam the number of graduated students with 100 cum laude (1.6% of the total against 1.3% of the previous school year). Overall, the 'commendable' were 7,365 (in 2018 there were 6,004). So the 'cake' made available by the Ministry, substantially unchanged in recent years, has been divided into many more slices. The region with the highest number of beneficiaries is Campania (1,287), followed by Puglia (1,225) and Sicily (817).

Thus continues the collapse of Bonus 100 and praise . In the year of its debut, with the same result they brought home 1000 euros. After that the thinning of the sum was almost constant: in 2010 the bonus 100 e lode had already become 600 euros, while in 2011 the share was halved to 500 euros. The 650 euros disbursed in 2012 were only an illusion; in 2013 it returned to 500 euros. After that it only went down: in 2014 and 2015 the bonus was 450 euros, in 2016 370 euros, in 2017 340 euros, in 2018 just 300 euros. Until the new negative record: the 255 euros distributed to the best of 2019.

It is however a positive fact that, for 13 years, the Ministry of Education has been supporting a program for the enhancement of excellence which, as the name itself says, recognizes the merits of the best students. Furthermore, names that are published and made available to universities, academies, research institutions and companies. Probably the real added value of the initiative. The 100 bonus will be paid to all excellent students directly from their school, which in turn will receive the money from the Regional School Office, as soon as the sums dedicated to this activity are made available. The institutes themselves will then reward the deserving graduates during ceremonies, which can also be organized in collaboration with local authorities.