Last April, the Ministry of Education announced that the schools have the possibility to stay open during summer 2021 to carry out the activities foreseen by the Piano scuola estate.  

The aim of the plan is to provide schools with ad-hoc financial resources to carry out extra-curricular activities that can help students to strengthen their competences for the next academic year, while regaining the connection with the school environment and colleagues that were lost during the pandemic period.

With a total amount of 510 million euros – from national and European funds – the activities involve teachers, administrative staff and external experts. Pupils and students participate on a voluntary basis.

The Plan is organised in three phases:

• Phase I (June) aims at strengthening pupils and students' subject-related and social competences through collaborative study, outdoor activities, laboratories and other activities that can involve external subjects.
• Phase II (July-August) has the purpose of making pupils and students regain their social dimension, through activities linked to music, arts, sports, computing, sustainability and environment, creative writing, etc. This phase also can involve external spaces like theatres, cinemas, museum, libraries, parks and sport centres.
• Phase III (September) introduces students to the new school year and, besides all the previous activities, includes guidance, psychological support, activities for inclusion.

The Ministry has activated a portal dedicated to the Plan where schools, families and students can find all information they need to carry out the activities.

More information:   https://pianoestate.static.istruzione.it/index.html

Source:  Eurydice Unit Italy