The 1st Regional Congress of Anief – Cisal FPC Department dedicated to the theme “The school we want: Quality, Innovation and Staff Rights” took place in Calabria. The assembly marked an important step for the union in Calabria, with the unanimous election of Francesco Ielapi as head of the Regional Secretariat, together with the new Board of Directors and the Regional Council. During the work, the main issues affecting the world of school were addressed, starting from the developments relating to the 2022–2024 contract and the resources necessary to strengthen a sector considered strategic for the future of the region.
The National Secretary of Cisal, Francesco Cavallaro, present at the proceedings, proposed a detailed reflection on wages, staff training and safety in the workplace, recalling the urgency of clear and lasting policies. Ielapi, in his programmatic speech, recalled the motions presented by Anief–Cisal for the 2026 budget law, placing emphasis on the recognition of the rights of school staff and the need to enhance all the professionals involved. He recalled the importance of measures such as the introduction of meal vouchers for all staff, the recognition of arduous work for teachers and the possibility of accessing the Social Ape at 63 years and 3 months as a voluntary choice, with a social security path that guarantees the accrual of the pension starting from 2027. The discussion also focused on the condition of vulnerable pupils, underlining how the lack of teaching continuity, also due to the segmentation of support staff, represents an obstacle to the construction of a truly inclusive school, especially in a complex area like the Calabrian one. A central passage was dedicated to the theme of innovation. While recognizing the presence, in some situations, of advanced technological infrastructures, it emerged that only 25% of teaching staff use digital tools and artificial intelligence applications. Hence the appeal to invest in training and the dissemination of new skills. Ielapi also recalled the irreplaceable role of ATA staff, defined as “the beating heart” of schools, and in particular that of administrative assistants, often called upon to carry out complex functions without adequate training support.
The congress highlighted the need to strengthen dialogue with Calabrian local authorities, to reduce precariousness and to review staffing with a view to stability and quality of service. The day ended with the election of the regional bodies, which formally confirmed the new leadership of the Cisal FPC Department for the next few years.