At the two nursery schools of the “Giulio Cesare” comprehensive institute in Mestre, only three children had an Italian surname at enrolment. At the “Cesare Battisti” primary school Italian pupils are almost absent, and in the six lower-secondary classes there are about ten. Nearly all the others are children of Bangladeshi families. The situation was reported in September by Tgcom24.
Why here
The school is close to the areas of Marghera and the station where many Bangladeshi families live, with parents working mainly in construction, shipbuilding and restaurants.
The staffing problem
Most administrative and auxiliary staff were on temporary contracts and several asked for transfers; none of the newly assigned staff from the regional list chose the school. Reasons cited include difficulty communicating with parents who do not speak Italian and the lack of a cultural mediator. The new head teacher, Antonella Zuccarini, in post since 1 September, called it “a big challenge” requiring “sustainable choices”.
An issue for everyone
In January 2025 a school in the Venice area had already started a Bengali course for children, amid political controversy. Experts say mother-tongue skills also help children learn Italian. For families, the first step is to attend parent meetings and adult Italian courses, which are free at CPIA schools.
