Pnrr, for the EU Court of Auditors unclear on digital schools – Corriere.it

The interventions to give access to the Internet to all schools, at the maximum possible speed, are delayed and the results expected from the measures financed by the Italian Pnrr for the digitization of schools are unclear. This was stated by the EU Court of Auditors in a report on the state of digital education in schools in Italy and five other EU countries. In particular, the analysis shows that “the reform of the education sector aimed at strengthening the offer of educational services, from nursery schools to universities, does not specify the goals and objectives defined”. And there are “significant delays” in the implementation of the broadband connectivity programme. Delays which, according to EU auditors, “put at risk the achievement of the goal of a connection gigabit by 2025 for the entire national territory”.

Factors holding back digitization

Among the factors that have prevented the achievement of better results on the digitization front of schools are the “slow speed of connectivity and inadequate networks in school buildings”, which have “made it difficult for many schools to make the best use of the equipment funded by the EU», such as cloud applications or educational platforms. In essence, the tools are there but there is no adequate Internet connection to use them. However, 79% of schools say they have a formal strategy for using digital technologies for teaching purposes. And the auditors state that our country is the only one among the countries analyzed to refer to a concrete action plan for the digitization of schools for the period 2014-2020.

The no of Brussels to the stadiums of Florence and Venice

The opinion of the EU Court of Auditors comes after Brussels excluded the stadiums of Florence and Venice from the Pnrr

, objecting that both projects cannot be defined as “urban redevelopment” and included in the Integrated Urban Plans (PUI) of the respective metropolitan cities. «On April 4, the government convened the mayors of the metropolitan cities of Venice and Florence, in order to acquire every useful element to overcome the critical issues reported. Elements then transmitted to the Commission and subject of two further technical meetings – the minister had explained in a note the minister for European Affairs, the South, Cohesion Policies and the Pnrr, Raffaele Fitto, announcing the stoppage of Brussels – The services of the The European Commission, while appreciating the government’s effort, confirmed the ineligibility of the interventions of the Florence Stadium and the Bosco dello Sport in Venice”.

Projects that risk slipping

Still with regard to the infrastructure sector, there are at least others two projects that may fail to be completed on schedule: the upgrade of the Rome-Pescara line (two or three lots are at risk and also the route is not yet fully defined) and della LOrte-Falconara line. The government is thinking about the possibility of move their implementation to the cohesion funds, which can instead be used until 2029. In order to postpone the 2026 deadline, provided that there is the consent of Brussels. Another difficult objective to achieve, given the tight deadlines, is that of strengthening nursery schools and kindergartens. By 31 May the municipalities that have requested the resources of the Pnrr will have to award the works, initially the deadline was 31 March but then it was postponed. Despite the extension, however, many Municipalities will not be able to make up for the delay accumulated in recent months.