Students in the Cagliari area continue to protest the presence of rats and cockroaches in schools. The demonstration involves numerous high schools in the surrounding area and the capital, from Monserrato to Pirri, and all the way to the city center. This morning, banners and posters were displayed at several schools denouncing shortcomings and inefficiencies.
At Gramsci High School in Monserrato, students are especially concerned about the possible presence of rodents in the kitchen and dining room labs, fearing potential food contamination. This problem, according to school officials, could lead to the closure of the labs, which are essential for teaching vocational programs.
Tense moments arose at the Michelangelo school in Cagliari, on Via dei Donoratico, where students from the three branches gathered. The protests were not universally shared: on one side, students demonstrated with smoke bombs and car horns to denounce the presence of rats, while on the other, especially senior students, were concerned about the impact on their teaching and preparation for their final exams.
They challenge what they see as a misuse of the protest to avoid classes and demand that their academic progress not be compromised in preparation for the final exam.
During the demonstration at Fonsarda, local police officers had to recover a smoke bomb that had been thrown near a car: the vehicle risked catching fire.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan City has announced that "activities to monitor and combat pests in schools, both internally and externally, continue. The presence of mice can be encouraged by various environmental and structural factors and therefore requires targeted interventions, periodic checks, and constant collaboration between those involved in managing school buildings and their respective urban contexts."
Since the beginning of the year, the Metropolitan City's Insect Control Center has received 54 requests for rodent control, 58 requests for cockroach control, and 36 requests for larval, tick, and wasp control, all of which were promptly followed up.
"We understand the concerns of students and their families and thank school administrators for their cooperation and reporting," said Matteo Massa, Metropolitan Councilor for the Environment. "Protecting the health and safety of those who work at school every day is an absolute priority."