He wanted to test himself, he wanted to take the final exam but his school didn't let him.
It is the story in which she was the protagonist, despite herself, a 19-year-old girl with Down syndrome.
Nina Rosa Sorrentino, she would have liked to try to take the state exam in a human sciences high school in Bologna, but she won't be able to.
Thus, she dropped out of school with less than three months left in fifth grade.
Despite the fact that since the beginning of the three-year period the family had asked the teachers to change their daughter's individualized educational plan, moving from a differentiated program for certified pupils, which at the end of the five-year period only results in a certificate of skills, to a personalized one for minimum or equivalent, which provides for admission to the actual final exam, the Sabin high school did not consider complying with the request.
On the other hand, the opinion of the child neuropsychiatrist of the working group was favourable.
The story was reported today in the Corriere di Bologna.
Withdrawal was the only solution that the family found so as not to let their daughter lose the chance to try again next year to be admitted to the state exam.
"It is certainly not the example of the school of inclusion that inspires us - said Paola Frassinetti, Undersecretary for Education and Merit - Bringing a student with disabilities to change school is a serious episode. The school must use all the tools available to allow disabled children to be able to complete their school career, as well as to be able to grow and train".
The definitive refusal from the class council arrived in early March: "We never asked for her diploma to be given away, but for her to be given the opportunity to try", underlines her mother.
If the girl had not been withdrawn from school by March 15, at the end of the year she would have received the certificate of competence and to try her hand at the final exam she would have had to start over, in September, from the first year of high school.
The school didn't budge, worried that it was too much of a stressful target for Nina.
"It is a possibility that she was denied - comments to Corriere Giovanni Lacoppola, school contact person for the CoorDown association - There are many cases. We should all work more together for true inclusion which must really start from school. Without a diploma, these guys find it difficult to then be placed on a job level".
Now the parents will look for another school from September willing to support their daughter in personalized planning towards the final exam.
"It is important that a step forward be taken on these issues - they comment - not only for Nina, but for all of society".
Meanwhile, some high schools in the city have made contact with the family, who are available for a meeting to understand the situation.
Even the mayor Matteo Lepore and the municipal councilor of the Daniele Ara school are following the story and are in contact with the school and with the family.
