There are significantly more women than men in leadership positions in Italy’s schools. Prime Minister Meloni’s government now wants to take countermeasures – the next round of applications is for 600 positions.
Italy’s schools have a male quota. Because there are currently many more female principals than male principals, from the new school year onwards, male applicants with the same qualifications will be given preference when leadership positions are awarded. With a corresponding decree, the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to ensure a better balance between the genders.
In Italy, teaching children is traditionally a woman’s job: as early as the 19th century, there were more female teachers than male teachers, as the newspaper “Corriere della Sera” reported. Today the proportion of women is 83 percent, and in primary schools it is even 95 percent. However, men used to be in the majority of senior positions – this ratio has now been reversed.
The men’s quota should now apply in regions where the gap between the genders is more than 30 percentage points, i.e. almost everywhere. Specifically, the next round of applications is for almost 600 positions.