Abstract

This paper, through the specific case-study of the so-called ‘COVID teachers’ aims to examine some structural weaknesses of school policies: the systematic deficiency of personnel and the reluctance to invest in a definitive resolution of this critical issue. This trend is demonstrated by the reconstruction of the legal process that introduced COVID teachers, alternating confirmations, suspensions, and prorogation of their contracts. The precarious nature of ‘COVID teachers’ not only had a negative impact on the educational quality, but also revealed some others critical issues appeared during the pandemic. Teachers are called to carry out new functions like the control and the respect of the anti-COVID rules; dealing with new ways of delivering teaching activities and this has helped to distort, and devalue, their professionalism. COVID-19 must represent a starting point on renovating school policies and on preparing Italian school for any uncertain future through new paradigms.