(ANSA) - ROME, 01 MAY - Greater safety and effectiveness of Pathways for transversal skills and guidance (Pcto): the Minister of Education and Merit Giuseppe Valditara today presented to the Council of Ministers a package of interventions concerning the school-work alternation, to avoid accidents which in some cases were even fatal for some very young people.
The most urgent and necessary actions are contained in the Decree Law which establishes measures for social inclusion and will enter into force from the next school year 2023/2024.
First of all, the companies involved in the Pathways will have to integrate their risk assessment document with a specific section that will indicate the prevention measures and protective devices for children.
The supplement to the document will be provided to the school and attached to the Agreement signed between the institute and the company.
"This is a measure that fits into the context of the government's commitment to families so that PCTO and safety go hand in hand", commented Valditara.
Following dedicated tables between the Ministry of Education and Merit and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, a fund of 10 million for 2023 and 2 million for 2024 was set up at the Ministry of Labor, for the compensation for the families of students who are victims of accidents during school-work alternation activities.
Furthermore, the Decree Law expressly provides that the PCTO must be consistent with the Three-Year Plan of the Educational Offer (Ptof) of the institutes and with the cultural, educational and professional profile of the single study courses offered by the schools.
To ensure this purpose, the figure of the planning coordinator teacher is also introduced, who will be identified by the school.
At the same time, the Registry for school-work alternation at the chambers of commerce, industry, handicrafts and agriculture is being strengthened, with the inclusion of additional requirements that iPcto host companies must possess in order to avoid resorting to unqualified companies.
Among these requisites, the company's structural, technological and organizational skills, experience gained in the Paths, possible participation in forms of organizational connection with trade associations, school networks, territorial bodies already engaged in PCTOs.
For a profitable planning of the Pathways, interaction and exchange of information and data, hitherto lacking, are envisaged between the National Register for school-work alternation and the School-work alternation platform, set up at the Ministry of Education and del Merito, which is renamed as "Platform for Pathways for Transversal Skills and Orientation".
Furthermore, a system of constant monitoring of the quality of the itineraries is foreseen.
Training on safety in the workplace is also introduced as part of the teaching of civic education.
To guarantee the consolidation and quality of the PCTOs, the Ministry of Education and Merit then establishes the National Observatory for the support of the monitoring and evaluation activities of the pathways.
Composition, functioning and duration of the Observatory will be defined by the Minister's decree.
The Register of good practices of PCTOs is also being introduced at the Mim, which will collect the best actions of school institutions, to encourage the dissemination and sharing of experiences of excellence.
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