Italian schools are set to reopen on September 14th, after they were closed in March due to the coronavirus crisis. But things are expected to be very different in the new academic year. The Ministry of Education published a list of new safety protocols for schools earlier this month, which Education Minister Lucia Azzolina promised will protect the health of students and teachers, and will also improve education in the long term – notably by bringing an end to overcrowded, "chicken coop classes".

Teachers' unions have agreed to the proposals, meaning that schools can begin applying them before the new term starts on September 14th.