An important decision comes from Artistic, musical and choreutic high school “Walter Gropius” of Potenzawhich officially approved the introduction of menstrual leave For students who suffer from particularly painful menstruation.
Starting from the next school year, the girls who will present a appropriate by 30 September medical certification will be able to take advantage of Two days of monthly absence which will not affect the calculation of school absences. The justified absences will therefore not be counted on the maximum limit established for admission to the final ballot, thus protecting the students without penalizing them on the didactic level.
A step forward towards educational equity
The initiative, born on the proposal of the Provincial Student Consultation and supported by Provincial Councilor of Timewas accepted and approved by the Institute Council. The measure not only responds to a concrete need of many young people, but also represents a concrete gesture of attention to women’s rights and school wellness.
Virtuous examples also in other cities
The Liceo di Potenza is not the first to activate this measure: already the “Nervi-Severini” high school in Ravenna He started a similar experimentation, demonstrating how schools can be a forerunner in the absence of national legislation. Moreover, according to the Italian Society of Medicine of adolescencemenstrual pain is one of the main causes of school absenceaffecting up to 52% of teenagers.
Outside our country-where the issue entered the parliamentary debate in 2024 with the proposal of the Verdi-Administration alliance, signed by Elisabetta Piccolotti, who aims to guarantee leave also a workers and students in case of severe dysmenorrhea – in Europe the Spain introduced a paid menstrual leave for the workers, while in Japan A similar law has existed since 1947, although still little used for cultural fears.
An invitation to other schools
There Councilor Simona Bonito he praised the commitment of the Gropius high school calling it “an excellence on the educational and social level“. He then hoped that Other institutes can take example From this decision, adapting the school regulations to accommodate the specific needs of the students, with a view to inclusion and equal opportunities.
