The introduction of proficiency grades allows schools to fail students based on their performance alone behavior. Secondary and high school students whose ruling graded with five and less than the maximum ten will fail the year and will have to repeat it even if they have good grades in other subjects, reports RTS.
Those who score a six in governance will have to take a civics test.
Grades in governance will also significantly affect the ability to take the key "matriculation" exam, which is mandatory for obtaining the final diploma.
Law from the Mussolini era
The new measure has sparked strong reactions in Italy, and many say it is very similar to the one adopted by Benito Mussolini's fascist government in 1924.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara says the "governing grades" reform will restore the importance of individual responsibility, respect for others and public property, and restore the authority of teachers.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that the change will "bring respect back to schools".
The law also introduced fines for aggressive behavior towards educational staff, ranging from 500 to 10.000 euros.
The Italian association of educators ANP supported the adoption of the law. Since the beginning of this year, there has been a drastic increase in the number of incidents compared to last year - as much as 110 percent.
Often the teachers had to be given medical help, and in many cases the main actors of the incidents were the parents of the participants.
ANP President Antonello Giannelli pointed out that the law is a step forward.
"Students should be held accountable and bear the consequences of their actions," Gianelli added.
"Strengthening the penal culture"
Nevertheless, the coordinator of the National Association of Students, Tommaso Martelli, assessed that the measure will only "reinforce the authoritarian and punitive culture."
The original 1924 grade law remained in place until the 70s, before being withdrawn from primary and secondary schools following demonstrations. After that, it went through several modifications, but was completely abolished in 2000.
In Serbia, governance is average
In order to reduce the aggressive behavior of students in Serbia, mastery was introduced as a numerical grade from the second grade and is included in the average.
This measure was adopted as part of the new of the Rulebook in order to comply with the amendments to the Law on the Basics of the Education System.
Minister of Education Slavica Đukić Dejanović explained then that the aim of this measure is to be preventive.
The Minister added that the Rulebook on the performance of socially useful, i.e. humanitarian work in educational institutions, which also has a preventive role, was published.
"The purpose of community service in schools is to develop empathy, solidarity and cooperation and activism. Through these activities, students should improve the skills needed for responsible participation in society, as well as be empowered to respect and promote human rights.
"Socially useful activities in schools are no longer just a tool of enhanced educational work, as was the case until now, but are an integral part of the preventive plan for protection against violence, which is planned in the school's annual work plan and is implemented in order to include all students," she said. Djukic Dejanovic.
Teachers' reactions to the new Regulations were divided, some argued that they were vague, and some argued that they would devastate Serbian education.
Society first punishes instead of preventing
From the joint GRiG, which works to improve the quality of life of children and young people who are in conflict with the law, they previously told "Vreme" that there is currently an expansion of "jumping" in the behavior of minors, committing criminal acts, which may result in the need to strengthen them "we keep it under control".
"Certainly, a reaction to such contents was needed, but it is also important how minors are treated," said Maja Milačić, coordinator in the community.
She reminded that our society has always been dominated by punishment rather than prevention.
"We have been trying for years, in cooperation with other colleagues, to draw attention to the topic of prevention and counseling work with minors as a form of reducing the risk of re-offending," says Milačić.
She pointed out that this is exactly what educational orders are for, when issuing them, not only the type of crime is taken into account, but also whether the juvenile committed the crime for the first time, how aware he is of his actions and responsibilities.
Education workers in Serbia, instead of protection, got on the list
Educators in Serbia they started on September 16 with warning strikes due to poor working conditions.
They demand that, in accordance with the agreement with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code be discussed in public and that they be adopted by the National Assembly as a matter of urgency.
The teachers also demand that the starting salary of a teacher, i.e. an employee with a seventh degree, in accordance with the signed Protocol with the Government of Serbia, be equalized with the average salary in the country in January 2025. The increase should be in the same percentage for all employees in education.
The average salary for educators would thus amount to 105.000 dinars, which would be an increase of between 20 and 25 percent.
One of the demands is that by the end of 2024, in consultation with representative trade unions, the Regulation on the coefficients for the calculation and payment of salaries of employees in public services be amended, in accordance with the signed Protocol, and they also request that employees in education be paid the New Year's allowance in in accordance with the Special Collective Agreement.
After the first warning strike, the Ministry of Education sent a letter to school principals asking for them precise data on the number of teachers who stopped work, as well as the fact that school principals are not allowed to inform parents and students about it, and that in that situation the principals are concerned about the safety of the children.
On Wednesday, October 2, it will be organized another warning protest, there will be no classes in schools, nor admission of children to kindergartens whose employees are members of the four representative unions that are organizing the strike and protest in Belgrade.
