Toscolano Maderno Approves Garda Formation Vocational Center Development
A vocational school similar to the one in Villanuova has been approved by the Toscolano Maderno City Council.
It will be called «Garda Formation Consortium». «We intend to offer courses in craftsmanship, mechanics, informatique, botany, vocational initiation, and professional retraining» stated Fabio Belloni, the public education assessor.
Explanations and objectives of the project
The reasons behind the choice are explained by the Polo’s mayor, Paolo Elena: «The Provincial Administration and the Lombardy Region have urged us to open a school center in the upper Garda area. We are laying the first stone by approving the statute. We hope to have institutional interlocutors.
The Artigianelli of Brescia have expressed interest. We are also considering other industrial entities, such as the paper mill. Why not develop the know-how locally rather than relocating elsewhere?
The first citizen asks: «I recall, for example, that last year, we set up a multimedia classroom within the middle schools where we already held a couple of IT courses, and a third is starting now. Furthermore, we signed an agreement with the University of Milan for the villa of Serraglio: they will renovate it and hold botany classes.
All these initiatives could be incorporated into the Vocational Training Center, an innovative project. The school is undergoing renewal, with compulsory education extended to 16 years.
We will issue certificates of attendance and aptitude. On the financial side? Contributions will come from the Pirellone on one hand and from the organizing bodies on the other.
Criticisms and reassurances
Among the administrators, doubts and questions about the initiative have arisen. Daniela Vassalini, from the center-left, says: «It is strange that the municipality creates a consortium with itself, without partners. Also, after the failure of the urban surveillance consortium with Gardone Riviera and Tignale, I didn’t think it would be interested in joining others anymore.
Finally, I would not want funds allocated to the disabled education center of Anffas di Fasano to be cut in support of this new initiative. My reservations concern not the object itself, but mainly the procedure adopted.
The mayor, for his part, provided reassurances: thus, the proposal was unanimously approved (Cristina Milani abstained). The location has been identified at the Piamarta, along the lakeside promenade.
«In recent weeks» — explained Elena — «we have renovated the building, owned by the clergy, and in these days, we are moving the elementary school children.
The classes will be interrupted and will resume on Monday, December 11th, at Piamarta. In the coming months, we will spend about 1.2 billion lire to bring the old building, adjacent to the municipal palace, up to standard with its systems.
By June or July, the works will be completed, and by September, the students will be able to return. From the 2001-2002 school year, Piamarta will be freed up to host the vocational training center.
Again, we are establishing a lean structure, non-profit, which will be filled with memberships from other entities. Teachers will be recruited from the market». s.z.