Naples Hotel Schools in Crisis: Lab Delays Threaten Student Futures
Naples, January 16 – A critical situation is unfolding in the hotel schools across the province of Naples, where hundreds of students are being denied essential practical training due to what teachers describe as an “untenable situation.” The core issue stems from an unprecedented delay in the Metropolitan City’s bid process for external laboratories, crucial for hands-on culinary and hospitality education.
Months of Educational Paralysis
Teachers from several institutes have voiced their concerns to Deputy Francesco Borrelli (Alleanza Verdi-Sinistra), highlighting a paralysis in teaching that has persisted for months. Many hotel schools in the region lack internal laboratories and rely annually on this bid to secure equipped external facilities for practical lessons.
According to the teachers, the bid was published in October, and offers were submitted in November. However, as of mid-January, no assignments have been made. This prolonged delay prevents students from completing their required practical training, despite daily solicitations from school principals to the responsible entity.
The Bidding Process and Affected Institutions
Technical documentation (Bid P1037233-25) reveals that the procedure involves seven lots, valued at over 205,000 euros. The institutions awaiting the assignment of these external premises are key players in the region’s educational landscape, including:
- Istituto Sereni of Afragola (three-year and two-year courses)
- Manlio Rossi Doria of Marigliano
- Pantaleo of Torre del Greco (three-year and two-year courses)
- De Gennaro of Vico Equense (Gragnano branch)
- Bruno Munari of Acerra
“Despite the deadline for offers being November 19, everything still appears to be at a standstill. The alarm raised by the teachers is extremely serious and cannot be ignored,” stated Deputy Borrelli. “It’s mid-January, and the students cannot undertake practical lessons.”
Allegations of Budgetary Cuts at Students’ Expense
Teachers suspect that the procedures are being deliberately slowed down to save on rental fees for these external facilities. However, Borrelli emphasizes that “this saving comes at a very high cost: the future of the students.”
“It is a disgrace that bureaucracy or budgetary calculations are blocking the education in professional institutes that are fundamental for our tourism and gastronomic economy,” Borrelli added. He announced that he would immediately submit an inquiry to unblock the assignment of the lots, asserting that “school is not an expenditure item to be cut with delays; it is a constitutional right.”
Wider Educational Challenges in Naples
This issue is not isolated, as other reports highlight broader challenges within Naples’ educational system. Recent articles have detailed problems such as freezing classrooms and dilapidated facilities in schools from Scampia to Ponticelli, with parents occupying new, undelivered premises and appealing to the Minister of Education. Furthermore, studies indicate that 5% of young people in Naples live in a state of severe material deprivation, underscoring the urgent need for effective educational support.
The current situation in the hotel schools threatens to exacerbate these existing educational inequalities, potentially hindering the career prospects of hundreds of young individuals who aspire to contribute to Campania’s vibrant tourism and culinary industries. The lack of timely practical training could leave these students unprepared for the demands of the job market, ultimately impacting the region’s economic growth and reputation.
Call for Immediate Action
Stakeholders are urging for immediate intervention from the Metropolitan City to resolve the bid delays and ensure that students receive the practical education they are entitled to. The future of these aspiring chefs and hospitality professionals, and by extension, a significant portion of Naples’ economy, depends on a swift and effective resolution to this ongoing crisis.
Source: https://napoli.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_gennaio_15/istituti-alberghieri-di-napoli-senza-laboratori-la-denuncia-dei-docenti-64a28d21-32fa-4818-9572-2f0cab402xlk.shtml
